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
Iranians have occasionally rallied around reformist candidates, but they, too, have been undermined by hard-line revolutionary purists.
—
Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
Republicans have embraced Trump’s hard-line approach to portray Democrats as radicals.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Jan. 2026
While the Rodríguez siblings may be prepared to absorb this to preserve stability and their own survival, hard-line military figures could be far less inclined to do so.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
The 30-year-old investor has made a name for himself with fiery campaign videos on social media, as well as taking hard-line stances against immigration, even legal immigration.
—Jim Defede, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2026
Republicans have embraced Trump’s hard-line approach to portray Democrats as radicals.
—Dallas Morning News, 11 Jan. 2026
While the Rodríguez siblings may be prepared to absorb this to preserve stability and their own survival, hard-line military figures could be far less inclined to do so.
—Rebecca Hanson, The Conversation, 6 Jan. 2026
The 30-year-old investor has made a name for himself with fiery campaign videos on social media, as well as taking hard-line stances against immigration, even legal immigration.
—Jim Defede, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-line
Adjective
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Researchers examined containment, shielding, and redundancy measures to ensure compliance with strict safety expectations for civilian nuclear applications.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
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Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Before taking any further action, the city must demand clear, rigorous answers to several critical concerns.—
Sara Lind,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2026
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Scientists, medical experts, policy makers and administrators, along with citizens who care about public health and nuclear energy, can bolster public confidence in nuclear energy by weighing in on this decision with the latest, most rigorous information possible.—
Katy Huff,
Scientific American,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-line. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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