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 of diverse religious faiths mark Nowruz even though the hard-line Iranian regime has at times discouraged festivities.
—
ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
Scattered reports of violent anti-government protests have emerged, despite the hard-line control of security services.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Despite withering airstrikes, officials see a weakened but more hard-line government in Tehran, backed by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps security forces.
—Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Democrats are dug in on their demand for changes to the hard-line immigration-enforcement tactics that Noem—and the White House—have implemented.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
ABC News, 18 Mar. 2026
Scattered reports of violent anti-government protests have emerged, despite the hard-line control of security services.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Despite withering airstrikes, officials see a weakened but more hard-line government in Tehran, backed by the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps security forces.
—Ellen Nakashima, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2026
Democrats are dug in on their demand for changes to the hard-line immigration-enforcement tactics that Noem—and the White House—have implemented.
—Nick Miroff, The Atlantic, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-line
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-line
Adjective
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In response, rental companies are implementing stricter cleaning standards, higher security deposits, and more surveillance.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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Still, the driver's age is raising broader policy questions, as some residents are calling for stricter testing requirements for older drivers, including more frequent vision and driving evaluations.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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No pharmaceutical company, no academic medical center, and no government agency has found the existing preclinical data compelling enough to fund a rigorous human trial in over 30 years.—
Vikas Patel,
STAT,
3 Apr. 2026
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Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.—
Layla Melendez,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-line.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-line. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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