dyed-in-the-wool

American  

[dahyd-n-thuh-wool] / ˈdaɪd n ðəˈwʊl /

adjective

1. through and through; complete.

   a dyed-in-the-wool reformer.

2. dyed before weaving.

---

dyed-in-the-wool British  

adjective

1. extreme or unchanging in attitude, opinion, etc

2. (of a fabric) made of dyed yarn

---

dyed-in-the-wool Cultural  

1. Thoroughgoing or complete: “The door-to-door salespeople are wasting their time with Evans; he's a dyed-in-the-wool advocate of shopping on the Internet.”

---

Etymology

Origin of dyed-in-the-wool

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Hailing from a dyed-in-the-wool Social Democratic family, she is the daughter of a typographer and a pre-school teacher.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

But back in Cavett’s day, top decision-makers at the networks were still dyed-in-the-wool broadcasting executives.

From Salon • Sep. 24, 2025

It is hard to overstate the significance of these words coming from the pen of a deeply conservative, dyed-in-the-wool Federalist Society stalwart like Pryor.

From Slate • Mar. 17, 2025

For a dyed-in-the-wool smokejumper, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 9, 2023

Robert Sweitzer was a dyed-in-the-wool Catholic Democrat, brother-in-law to a powerful Democratic ward politician.

From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield