diehard

American  

[dahy-hahrd] / ˈdaɪ hɑrd /

adjective

1. stubbornly devoted.

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noun

plural

diehards

1. a person who is stubbornly devoted to something, such as a political viewpoint or a particular media property.

Other Word Forms

• non-diehard noun

Explanation

A diehard is a person who likes things a certain way and doesn't want them to change — or who sticks to an opinion no matter what. If everyone in your family is a Democrat except your cousin, you might call him a Republican diehard. A diehard will hold fast to her ideas, views, or opinions even in the face of opposition. You could call yourself a diehard if you insist on sticking to the same recipes for Thanksgiving dinner that your grandmother always made, especially if your siblings keep lobbying to add new dishes to the menu. The word diehard dates from the 19th century, and it originally referred to a tough soldier in a certain British Army regiment.

Example Sentences

But Samsung tempered expectations for the gigantic device, with an executive describing it as a special-edition product for diehard fans rather than for the masses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

That’s because most of the news stories about this box set completely buried the lede, and I had to wait for a diehard fan to post about it.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2025

The Athletic added in a Friday report that the two negotiators “remain far apart” on their respective demands, frustrating the YouTube TV viewers who make up “some of the most diehard NFL fans anywhere.”

From Slate • Nov. 10, 2025

I have been a diehard baseball fan for more than 60 years, and this year’s Dodger team is the toughest, gutsiest and most resilient team I have ever seen.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2025

Its biggest tune, ‘Nessun dorma’, was incredibly popular, not just with a few diehard fans but rather with just about everyone who heard it.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• fanatic
• fundamentalist
• zealot