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• die-hard
  die-hard

  noun

  a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like.
• die hard
  die hard

  Take a long time to cease to exist or be dropped from consideration. For example, Old prejudices die hard, or The more radical parts of this proposal will die hard. This idiom alludes to struggling against physical death. [Late 1700s]

die-hard

American  

[dahy-hahrd] / ˈdaɪˌhɑrd /

Or diehard

noun

1. a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like.

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adjective

1. resisting vigorously and stubbornly to the last; stubborn.

die-hard British  

noun

1. a person who resists change or who holds onto an untenable position or outdated attitude

2. (modifier) obstinately resistant to change

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die hard Idioms  

1. Take a long time to cease to exist or be dropped from consideration. For example, Old prejudices die hard, or The more radical parts of this proposal will die hard. This idiom alludes to struggling against physical death. [Late 1700s]

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Other Word Forms

• die-hardism
  noun

Etymology

Origin of die-hard

First recorded in 1835–45; noun, adj. use of verb phrase die hard

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

die-hard die hard

There’s not much here, unless you’re a “House of the Dragon” die-hard.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

For decades, the working-class area was a die-hard Labour stronghold.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

“First Take” host and fellow die-hard Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith reposted on X a graphic calling for Lee to receive a ring for his “decades of loyalty.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 15, 2026

For the fans, there is certainly more excitement among them for being in the city where their country will play their games, even if they aren't necessarily die-hard football supporters.

From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026

She considered herself a die-hard book nerd, but she realized even she needed a break after doing nothing but reading for the past four days.

From "The Parker Inheritance" by Varian Johnson

Yet the saying has persisted because old patterns die hard.

From Barron's ● May 1, 2026

Despite some confusion about the path forward, old habits apparently die hard.

From MarketWatch ● Mar. 2, 2026

Men may no longer always be in such a majority, but perhaps old habits formed years ago, really do die hard.

From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026

Professional football is America’s guilty pleasure—and guilty pleasures die hard.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

Or so they say, but old ways die hard, as well I know.

From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin

Related Words

• old-line
• uncompromising