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• hard line
  hard line

  noun

  an uncompromising or unyielding stand, especially in politics.
• hard-line
  hard-line

  adjective

  adhering rigidly to a dogma, theory, or plan; uncompromising or unyielding.

hard line

¹ American  

noun

1. an uncompromising or unyielding stand, especially in politics.

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hard-line ² American  

[hahrd-lahyn] / ˈhɑrdˌlaɪn /

Or hardline

adjective

1. adhering rigidly to a dogma, theory, or plan; uncompromising or unyielding.

   hard-line union demands.

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hard line British  

noun

1. 1. an uncompromising course or policy

   2. hardline. ( as modifier )

      a hardline policy

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hard line Idioms  

1. A firm, uncompromising policy or position. For example, The President was taking a hard line on the budget. [c. 1960]

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Other Word Forms

• hardliner
  noun

Etymology

Origin of hard line¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Origin of hard-line²

An Americanism dating back to 1960–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

hard line hard-line

However, it’s hard to believe that a megacorporation like Disney, which now essentially owns and controls all major media marketed to children, would draw a hard line at the smart device.

From Salon ● Jun. 21, 2026

He is trailed by right-wing candidates Abelardo de la Espriella and Paloma Valencia, both of whom have pledged to take a hard line against rebel groups.

From Barron's ● Apr. 25, 2026

Despite the public hard line from both sides, the two combatants are actively engaging with mediators and open to talks if each shows enough flexibility, the officials said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026

It’s a hard line to take given that you have a modest net worth and two kids.

From MarketWatch ● Apr. 7, 2026

The NSA’s new director was in favor of the new policy, taking the hard line that “All official cryptanalysis is a type of activity that should be protected no matter how old it has become.”

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield

Peru has joined the Shield of the Americas, a U.S.-led coalition of over a dozen countries adopting a hard-line playbook for taking on drug traffickers and armed groups.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

But in recent weeks, Iran has taken an increasingly hard-line approach to the war, striking several tankers attempting to pass through the strait.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

Murrill’s hard-line tactics, particularly in Brooks’ case, stand out among her peers in other states, said Jeffrey Gutman, a professor emeritus at the George Washington University Law School and a national expert on compensation funds.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026

President Reagan, saying he is “a bit wiser” after two failed attempts to put a hard-line conservative on the Supreme Court, today picked federal appeals Judge Anthony M.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026

Closing the border between East and West Berlin was not the idea of the KGB, the Soviet army, or anyone in the Kremlin: It was the brainchild of Walter Ulbricht, East Germany's hard-line communist leader.

From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau

Related Words

• hard-core
• militant
• staunch
• uncompromising
• unyielding