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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  a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like.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 a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like.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 a person who resists change or who holds onto an untenable position or outdated attitude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

To the delight of die-hard fans and coupon collectors, for a limited time the new stores will accept the chain’s blue and white coupons, no matter how old they are.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026

Loyal customers have come back as the company refocused on dishing up its most die-hard fans’ favorite foods, deals and nostalgia.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

Around one-third of the shares will be set aside for everyday investors -- of which many are die-hard believers in Musk -- a far larger slice than a typical IPO offers.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

Moreno, once satisfied with being just another suds-loving die-hard, became more involved in player acquisition while surrounding himself with inexperienced general managers who struggled along with him.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

I'm a die-hard classic rock 'n' roll fan and love Bollywood music, of course.

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

Related Words

• abide
• combat
• confront
• continue
• curb
• defy
• endure
• forgo
• maintain
• prevent
• refuse
• repel
• thwart
• turn down