hardline
hardline — noun
1. the position of refusing to change your opinion or agree to other people's deman
the position of refusing to change your opinion or agree to other people's demands, even when they ask you repeatedly — for example, a government refusing to lower taxes or a manager refusing to allow flexible working hours.
Principal Mayumi's hardline on phone use during class reduced student distractions by nearly half.
someone's hardline on [issue]
Factory management took a hardline during contract talks and refused to raise wages any further.
take a hardline during [event]
Senator Evelyn's hardline against corporate tax avoidance angered many business leaders.
The committee's hardline on budget cuts upset several department heads at the university.
Voters grew tired of the government's hardline on housing policy and demanded reform.
- stubbornness
more personal and negative; used for individuals rather than policies
- intransigence
more formal, often used in political writing
- inflexibility
focuses on inability to adapt rather than refusal to compromise
- flexibility
willingness to change position or adapt to others
- moderation
a position that avoids extremes and seeks balance
文法句型
take a hardline on [issue]
someone's hardline on [issue]
用法筆記
Often used in political or workplace contexts to describe a refusal to compromise. Frequently appears with possessives (someone's hardline) or in the phrase 'take a hardline'.
常見錯誤
hardline — adjective
- hardlinepositive
- more hardlinecomparative
- most hardlinesuperlative
1. describes a person, group, or policy that holds an extremely firm position and i
describes a person, group, or policy that holds an extremely firm position and is not willing to change it or accept any less extreme alternative — for example, a hardline political faction that rejects all compromise on a law.
Rafael's hardline views on prison reform cost him the support of many moderate voters.
hardline views on [topic]
The company adopted a hardline policy against using personal phones during work hours.
hardline policy against [activity]
Nora took a hardline approach to negotiations and would not accept any late deliveries.
A small hardline group within the party rejected the compromise proposed by the leader.
The country's hardline trade rules made it difficult for foreign companies to enter the market.
- uncompromising
the closest synonym; more common in everyday language
- rigid
suggests an unwillingness to change that may be unreasonable
- intransigent
more formal; describes people or groups who refuse to agree
文法句型
hardline + noun (stance / policy / approach / views / member / faction)
用法筆記
Attributive only — used before a noun (hardline stance, hardline policy). Cannot be used predicatively (❌ 'The stance is hardline'). Distinguish from the noun sense, which describes the position itself rather than the quality of a policy or person.