die-hard

adjective

ˈdī-ˌhärd 

: strongly or fanatically determined or devoted

die-hard fans

especially : strongly resisting change

a die-hard conservative

diehard noun

die-hardism

ˈdī-ˌhärd-ˌiz-əm 

noun

Synonyms

• archconservative
• brassbound
• button-down
• buttoned-down
• conservative
• hidebound
• mossbacked
• old-fashioned
• old-line
• old-school
• orthodox
• paleoconservative
• reactionary
• standpat
• traditional
• traditionalistic
• ultraconservative
• unprogressive

Examples of die-hard in a Sentence

the die-hard purists are never going to accept certain words, no matter who uses them

Recent Examples on the Web

The 2026 World Cup is almost certainly going to see more demand from global soccer fans and so, possibly, ticket prices running away from the ability of die-hard fans to pay. —Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 26 Feb. 2025

The series of films also spawned gobs of merchandise — more movies in the three Fantastic Beasts prequel films, a TV series in development at HBO, as well as clothes, jewelry, toys, games, and even theme parks — plus generations of die-hard fans. —Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 26 Feb. 2025

But Michael Montijo — a die-hard Chiefs fan — wouldn’t be there to see it. —Nicolás Viñuela, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025

For the die-hard fans who want to go back in time to the Backstreet Boys’ greatest hits from the Into the Millennium album and tour, now’s your chance to rock your body to the group’s Y2K bops all night long. —Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 18 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

die-hard

adjective

ˈdī-ˌhärd

: strongly or excessively determined or devoted

die-hard fans

diehard noun