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  a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like.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 a person who vigorously maintains or defends a seemingly hopeless position, outdated attitude, lost cause, or the like.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 a person who resists change or who holds onto an untenable position or outdated attitude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

“We have a few really die-hard salad customers and a few folks who love the fully loaded nachos with all of the vegetables,” Fluhler said.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 18, 2026

Even die-hard fans of Stevie Wonder might not know the name Robert Margouleff.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026

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

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

Albert Ayler was an amazing, avant-garde saxophonist known only to the most die-hard jazz enthusiasts.

From "The Color of Water: A Black Man's Tribute to His White Mother" by James McBride

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

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 24, 2025

Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist and die hard Lakers fan Flea also sent positive thoughts toward the young player.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2023

Old ideas die hard, and not everyone rushed to embrace the exciting new theory.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Related Words

• old-line
• uncompromising