HARD-SHELL Synonyms: 102 Similar and Opposite Words

hard-shell

adjective

variants or hard-shelled

Definition of hard-shell

as in hard-line

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

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-shell Modern restaurant menus, with the familiar enchiladas and tamales and hard-shell tacos, can resemble Tex-Mex, but never say that to a New Mexican local. — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026 Since many bags share the same characteristics (think a black, medium-sized, hard-shell suitcase, for example), listing any unique attributes will help. — Bailey Berg, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026 Since the seeds are hard-shelled, germination often requires scarification, that is, weakening of the seeds’ coats by an exterior force in order to encourage water absorption. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Mar. 2026 The campaign provides a chance to dip cones for $1 charge in hard-shell coating flavors, such as chocolate, cherry, or butterscotch. — Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 19 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard-shell

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-shell

Adjective

Leadership is hoping that by dangling a fourth spending package, hard-line Republican holdouts will vote to advance the third reconciliation bill.

— Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 21 July 2026
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, urged a hard-line response to the chavistas and argued that an intervention would serve America’s national-security interests.

— Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 20 July 2026

Definition of hard-line

Adjective

Core inflation gives economists and policymakers a good sense of how persistent price pressures may be, and to gauge Americans’ view of prices, officials look at market and survey-based measures of inflation expectations.

— Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 July 2026
Powered by a turboprop engine producing roughly 900 horsepower, it is designed for persistent operations across large theatres of war.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 July 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

Hwang Jung-min, who leads the international cast, recommended Hoyeon for the role of a tenacious police officer.

— Angelique Jackson, Variety, 24 July 2026
Directed by their longtime collaborator Garth Jennings, the feature combines footage from their arena tour behind last year’s reunion album, More, with archival film tracing the band’s rise from tenacious Sheffield also-rans to Britpop darlings.

— Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 23 July 2026

Definition of tenacious

Adjective

An animalistic sense of intimidation coils beneath each gesture as Bracken offers a remarkable follow-up to her breakout role as a stern clairvoyant.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 24 July 2026
The Latvian champions represent the sternest test of Wrexham Women’s recent history, particularly given the tight turnaround from Wednesday evening’s match and the hours of analysis and preparation put in by Sugarman and her staff.

— Megan Feringa, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of stern

Adjective

Similarly, relying on a single, rigid path for payments is no longer enough, and alternative routes must be available.

— Moshe Kimhi, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
The ferry, Edghill said, was fitted with 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts and six inflatable life rafts.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 21 July 2026

Definition of rigid

Adjective

Even the relentless pursuit of Joao Felix across at least three windows underlines his willingness to sign players who have question marks against them.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026
This Pulitzer-winning neo-slave narrative reimagines the Underground Railroad as a real subterranean network, in a Sisyphean allegory that illustrates the relentless metamorphoses of white supremacy and Black resistance.

— Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 22 July 2026

Definition of relentless

Adjective

One pledge suffered severe kidney injuries and was hospitalized but was expected to recover, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 27 July 2026
The second apron is a luxury tax mechanism introduced in the 2023 collective bargaining agreement that imposes severe financial and roster-building restrictions on teams with exceptionally high payrolls.

— Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

Definition of severe

Browse Nearby Words

hardscrabble

hard-shell

hardship

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Hard-shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-shell. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of hard-shell

adjective

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

sultry

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes