as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
a hard-line approach to the sentencing of repeat offenders
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Recent Examples of hard-line
This position placed Tajzadeh on the front lines of the battle over democratization that unfolded between Khatami’s government and the hard-line establishment that eventually defeated it.
—
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2025
In Putnam County, where a decisive 83% of voters backed Trump in 2024, the story of Rocher — a church volunteer who has become a bridge between Haitians and longtime residents — is challenging some to grapple with their party’s hard-line immigration views.
—Daniela Pierre-Bravo, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2025
Any sense that history trends in a general direction—toward freedom, perhaps, or toward rights, markets, secularism, or science—is confounded by a large, prosperous country becoming a hard-line semi-theocracy.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
That came after those hard-line conservatives tanked a procedural rule vote Tuesday in protest, a once-exceedingly-rare occurrence that has become commonplace since Republicans regained the majority in 2023.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 8 Aug. 2025
In Putnam County, where a decisive 83% of voters backed Trump in 2024, the story of Rocher — a church volunteer who has become a bridge between Haitians and longtime residents — is challenging some to grapple with their party’s hard-line immigration views.
—Daniela Pierre-Bravo, NBC news, 6 Aug. 2025
Any sense that history trends in a general direction—toward freedom, perhaps, or toward rights, markets, secularism, or science—is confounded by a large, prosperous country becoming a hard-line semi-theocracy.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
That came after those hard-line conservatives tanked a procedural rule vote Tuesday in protest, a once-exceedingly-rare occurrence that has become commonplace since Republicans regained the majority in 2023.
—Emily Brooks, The Hill, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-line
Adjective
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Neville said he's noticed many boutique and family-run hotels, especially in high-demand spots like Dubrovnik, Prague, and Santorini, booking out earlier than ever, requiring full deposits up front, and enforcing strict cancellation policies.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
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Jackets, ties, nylons and shoulder pads made a comeback, all in strict adherence to a dress code that hadn't been revised in decades.—
Darlin Tillery,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The 2025 World Beer Awards, known for their rigorous blind tastings, crowned Germany's Wolf Gang, a surprising black IPA from zum WØL BrauArt, as the top IPA.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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The study reports that all test results, including algorithm design, simulations, and flight data, underwent rigorous validation.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-line. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
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