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

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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

Under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, Pakistan’s military has become more involved in general governance and embraced a hard-line approach to terrorism, but the security situation has only deteriorated.

— Hasan Ali, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026
Murrill’s hard-line tactics, particularly in Brooks’ case, stand out among her peers in other states, said Jeffrey Gutman, a professor emeritus at the George Washington University Law School and a national expert on compensation funds.

— Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard-line

Adjective

Why recruiting became political The Pentagon is emerging from the yearslong recruiting slump that followed the COVID-19 pandemic, easing one of the military's most persistent political headaches that drew bipartisan anxiety on Capitol Hill.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
There is also persistent friction between Arab and Kurdish communities in the northeast of the country, and the government has had to respond to pockets of violence against the religious Alawite minority along Syria’s coast.

— Paula Hancocks, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of persistent

Adjective

Against the odds, Afghan women have built a tenacious resistance movement, inside and outside the country, that is working to alleviate conditions and provide opportunities, however limited, for women and girls.

— Rina Amiri, Foreign Affairs, 14 Aug. 2026
Silicone doesn’t break-down in water and adheres to pipe walls along with trapped hair to create particularly tenacious blockages, according to Gonzalez.

— Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of tenacious

Adjective

There, her stern Granny and poised Aunt Helen (Genevieve O’Reilly) are horrified by her lack of refinement and her indifference about finding a respectable husband.

— Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026
In addition to a stern, demanding father, the boy is further plagued by a sudden physical instability, requiring an iron body brace that keeps him ramrod-straight.

— Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of stern

Adjective

Yet the virus spread undetected for a month because researchers were unable to get permission from a rigid bureaucracy to test the swabs that would have helped identify it.

— Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026
What starts as a reasonable desire to prevent disease can escalate into constant testing and rigid routines built around an ever-growing roster of supplements and experimental remedies.

— John Vorwald, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of rigid

Adjective

Miller has remained steadfast in his commitment to stay in the race despite GOP calls for the second-term congressman to step down, as well as a House Ethics Committee investigation.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026
That interloper was Shadow, who became Jackie's steadfast mate right up until her hospitalization last month.

— Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of steadfast

Adjective

The Cubs have been relentless against lefties this season, and that pressure continued Wednesday with lefty Jackson Kent, a Lake Park graduate from Hanover Park, making his major-league debut for the Nationals.

— Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026
The brutal nausea and vomiting of norovirus, for instance, subsides in one to three days; even the relentless diarrhea of cyclosporiasis can let up in a couple of days with an antibiotic.

— Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of relentless

Adjective

Panettiere has long been candid about her struggles navigating child stardom and fame, often opening up about her experiences with severe postpartum depression (PPD), addiction, and anxiety.

— Jodi Guglielmi, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2026
The afternoon storm cluster has largely removed the greatest instability from our region, so the severe threat is expected to stay low.

— Trey Fulbright, CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of severe

Browse Nearby Words

hardscrabble

hard-shell

hardship

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“Hard-shell.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-shell. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of hard-shell

adjective

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