1
as in certain
having been established and usually not subject to change
hard-and-fast rules that governed the corporate environment in those days included strictures regarding office dress that were rigidly enforced
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unchangeable
not capable of changing or being changed
hard-and-fast beliefs that are the rock-solid foundation of their religion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hard-and-fast
While hard-and-fast studies of melatonin's overall efficacy are few, there does seem to be significant anecdotal evidence in scientific literature pointing to melatonin supplementation working well for some individuals and not much better than a placebo for others.
—
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
Both Chris and Ines don’t believe there are any hard-and-fast rules with pork.
—Bon Appétit, 30 Oct. 2024
After all, weddings are unique to every couple, so there aren’t always hard-and-fast rules to fall back on.
—Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 22 Oct. 2024
Depositphotos So there's some hard-and-fast evidence that men have weaker immune systems than women, therefore get sicker than women, and therefore, likely complain more than women about their illnesses.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hard-and-fast 
Michael Franco, New Atlas, 4 Nov. 2024
Both Chris and Ines don’t believe there are any hard-and-fast rules with pork.
—Bon Appétit, 30 Oct. 2024
After all, weddings are unique to every couple, so there aren’t always hard-and-fast rules to fall back on.
—Jennifer Adams, StyleCaster, 22 Oct. 2024
Depositphotos So there's some hard-and-fast evidence that men have weaker immune systems than women, therefore get sicker than women, and therefore, likely complain more than women about their illnesses.
—Michael Franco, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for hard-and-fast
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-and-fast
Adjective
-
Heavy rains and thunderstorms are now forecast through Tuesday (Jan. 28), though the sudden showers have also triggered flood warnings in certain areas.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
28 Jan. 2025
-
When in reality… there’s certain things that need to be told to the head coach that are occurring.—
Paulina Dedaj,
Fox News,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
This policy change follows a recent executive order mandating federal recognition of only two sexes, male and female, as unchangeable.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA TODAY,
28 Jan. 2025
-
Our rejection of displacement is firm and unchangeable.—
Joel Thayer,
Newsweek,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The shows provide a stable haven for pharmaceutical advertisers, still one of the biggest supporters of linear TV.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
-
View Comments While the US economy has been solid and financial markets stable as a whole, the BOJ must be vigilant to uncertainties surrounding US policy conduct, the report said.—
Reuters,
CNN,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
What's more, Ocasio-Cortez was frequently the subject of viral social media mockery, often for her unchanging stance on transgender inclusion in women's and girls sports.—
Jackson Thompson,
Fox News,
16 Jan. 2025
-
Gloria Reuben is 'most proud' that her ER character, the HIV-positive Dr. Boulet, was able to live on The Pitt will only work if viewers want to spend 15 hours in close, unchanging quarters with these characters — something that would be difficult to pull off if the cast weren’t so good.—
Kristen Baldwin,
EW.com,
9 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The exact cause of the fire, which killed 17 people and destroyed more than 9,000 homes and businesses, remains under investigation, and a final determination could take many months.—
Ivan Penn,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2025
-
There were 18 matches, 64 goals, three hat-tricks and plenty of drama on the final day of the new-look league phase of the Champions League.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
The Athletic,
30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The members of the ERA Coalition believe the national archivist, a political appointee with no fixed term, has the authority to publish the ERA because there is no ratification deadline in the Constitution — an interpretation also supported by the 400,000-member American Bar Association.—
Amanda Becker,
Them,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Yet unlike a novel, a D&D campaign had no fixed ending; in fact, the game’s uncanny way of resisting all attempts to end it, like Scheherazade delaying her execution with yet another tale, was both a selling point and a real source of anxiety.—
Andrea Long Chu,
Vulture,
30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
-
Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Thesaurus Entries Near hard-and-fast
Cite this Entry
“Hard-and-fast.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-and-fast. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share