steadfast

or sted·fast

[ sted-fast, -fahst, -fuhst ]

/ ˈstɛdˌfæst, -ˌfɑst, -fəst /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR steadfast ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

fixed in direction; steadily directed: a steadfast gaze.

firm in purpose, resolution, faith, attachment, etc., as a person: a steadfast friend.

unwavering, as resolution, faith, adherence, etc.

firmly established, as an institution or a state of affairs.

firmly fixed in place or position.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

ste., ste. anne de beaupré, ste.-foy, ste.-thérèse, stead, steadfast, steadicam, steading, steady, steady as a rock, steady state

Origin of steadfast

before 1000; Middle English stedefast, Old English stedefæst. See stead, fast¹

SYNONYMS FOR steadfast

2 sure, dependable, reliable, constant, unwavering. Steadfast, staunch, steady imply a sureness and continuousness that may be depended upon. Steadfast literally means fixed in place, but is chiefly used figuratively to indicate undeviating constancy or resolution: steadfast in one's faith. Staunch literally means watertight, as of a vessel, and therefore strong and firm; figuratively, it is used of loyal support that will endure strain: a staunch advocate of free trade. Literally, steady is applied to that which is relatively firm in position or continuous in movement or duration: a steady flow; figuratively, it implies sober regularity or persistence: a steady worker.

4, 5 stable.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR steadfast ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR steadfast

2 capricious, variable.

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Related forms

stead·fast·ly, adverbstead·fast·ness, nouno·ver·stead·fast, adjectiveo·ver·stead·fast·ly, adverb

o·ver·stead·fast·ness, nounun·stead·fast, adjectiveun·stead·fast·ly, adverbun·stead·fast·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for steadfastly

Snyder has steadfastly refused to even consider a name change.
The Native Americans Who Voted for ‘The Fighting Sioux’|Evan Weiner|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sarkozy has steadfastly denied allegations of wrongdoing in the Tapie case.
New Phone-Tapping Scandal Plagues Sarkozy|Tracy McNicoll|March 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a freedom fighter, Mandela was an adversary of those who steadfastly supported the Apartheid government that oppressed him.
Mandela and My Son|Yousef Munayyer|December 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
It has steadfastly refused to release its own estimates of non-combatant deaths in drone strikes, figures that it says classified.
U.S. Drone Program Needs to Be Accompanied by Hard Facts on Civilian Deaths|Daniel Klaidman|November 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST

But he has steadfastly refused to confirm or deny reports that he and Silda are living apart.
Meet the New Eliot Spitzer|Lloyd Grove|July 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And now I could watch him without much danger, standing as I did well above him, while his eyes were steadfastly bent downward.
Erema|R. D. Blackmore
Saidie regarded him steadfastly, with eyes ever growing wider as she listened.
Six Women|Victoria Cross
The angler, a tall thin man of sixty, with a keen grave face and wiry gray hair, regarded the Parson steadfastly.
Perlycross|R. D. Blackmore
The stranger faced about and each looked at the other steadfastly.
A Prisoner of Morro|Upton Sinclair
They spoke in German, because Dr Hegelmann had steadfastly refused to learn any language beyond his own.
Swirling Waters|Max Rittenberg

British Dictionary definitions for steadfastly

steadfast

stedfast

/ (ˈstɛdfəst, -ˌfɑːst) /

adjective

(esp of a person's gaze) fixed in intensity or direction; steady

unwavering or determined in purpose, loyalty, etcsteadfast resolve

Derived Forms

steadfastly or stedfastly, adverbsteadfastness or stedfastness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012