: advocating or involving a rigidly uncompromising course of action
hard-liner noun

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.
The breakdown of these traditional promotional barriers has led to a softening of the hard-line broadcast deals that previously meant Star Boxer A couldn’t take on Star Boxer B simply because each fought on different platforms. Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025 Kirk inspired and infuriated millions of Americans with his hard-line conservative views and often incendiary language. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025 Neither a Muslim majority democratic government nor a more hard-line nationalist variant in Iran would sit well with nearby Gulf monarchs. David Mednicoff, The Conversation, 9 Sep. 2025 But there are hard-line conservatives in both chambers who have been calling for the party to back a longer-term stopgap into next year. Aris Folley, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hard-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard-line. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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