hard-line

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈlīn How to pronounce hard-line (audio)
Synonyms of hard-linenext
: advocating or involving a rigidly uncompromising course of action
a hard-line policy
hard-liner
ˈhärd-ˈlī-nər How to pronounce hard-line (audio)
noun

Synonyms of hard-line

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of hard-line in a Sentence

a hard-line approach to the sentencing of repeat offenders
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
His hard-line security policies have been a pillar of his campaign, and polls show these proposals are popular. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Even a modest drop in support could shape Tuesday’s tight election, helping opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot or strengthening hard-line parties that may keep Netanyahu in power. — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 The Kremlin has also shown little sign of shifting from its hard-line demands, which include seizing Ukraine’s entire eastern Donbas region. — Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026 In some districts, the expansion of policing has been accompanied by a more hard-line approach to violent behavior. — Kristian Hernández, San Antonio Express-News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hard-line

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hard-line was in 1903

Rhymes for hard-line

See All Rhymes for hard-line

Browse Nearby Words

hard lead
hard-line
hard-liner
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hard-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard-line. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of milieu

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All