as in strict
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
a hard-line approach to the sentencing of repeat offenders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hard-line
Many are archaically hard-line on Communism, in favor of the Vietnam War, untroubled by military power: in a word, indifferent or hostile to what most concerns their younger partisans.
—
John Kenneth Galbraith, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The chief concern among the hard-line contingent was the lack of a provision in the GENIUS Act that would block the creation of a central bank digital currency.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 16 July 2025
In other words, the way the war has played out allows the IRGC and its hard-line allies in the regime to assert that their strategy worked as intended.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
The system has served Illinois consumers reasonably well over the decades, and hard-line regulatory approaches have been shown to backfire in other parts of the country, most notably California.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
John Kenneth Galbraith, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
The chief concern among the hard-line contingent was the lack of a provision in the GENIUS Act that would block the creation of a central bank digital currency.
—Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 16 July 2025
In other words, the way the war has played out allows the IRGC and its hard-line allies in the regime to assert that their strategy worked as intended.
—Mohammad Ayatollahi Tabaar, Foreign Affairs, 8 July 2025
The system has served Illinois consumers reasonably well over the decades, and hard-line regulatory approaches have been shown to backfire in other parts of the country, most notably California.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-line
Adjective
-
For example, in sales, if a customer wants a certain number of licenses but has a strict budget, an agent can help figure out the best deal by looking at things like license count, budget limits and different contract lengths (like one-, two- or three-year terms).—
Ian Gotts,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
-
San Francisco is set to crack down on homeless people living in RVs with its Board of Supervisors preparing to vote on strict new parking limits.—
Greg Norman,
FOXNews.com,
22 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ozzy Osbourne shared 3 children with first wife Thelma Riley The father of six children over two marriages, Osbourne has been vocal about how rigorous touring and alcohol use affected his family life.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
-
The 22-year-old flew to the United States and went through the DCC’s rigorous tryouts, eventually becoming one of six new rookies to join the 36-member squad, out of thousands who auditioned.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
22 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-line. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share