Ironclad

Pronunciation varies by accent · adjective

Meaning

Covered with iron, steel, or (loosely) any other tough metal; armor-plated..

Definitions by Sense

1. Covered with iron, steel, or (loosely) any other tough metal; armor-plated.
2. (figuratively) Solid or certain; not able to be disputed or questioned; irrefutable.
3. (figuratively) Rigorous; severe; exacting.
4. (figuratively) Stubborn; inflexible.
5. A ship, vessel, or vehicle with a covering of iron, steel, or (loosely) any other tough metal.
6. (military) An armor-plated warship, (especially) one preceding the invention of harveyized steel.
7. A wooden warehouse with an outer skin of corrugated metal.

Example Sentences

Unlike the average vehicle, cash delivery vans are ironclad and almost unstoppable.

In that flickering pallor it had the effect of a large and clumsy black insect, an insect the size of an ironclad cruiser, crawling obliquely to the first line of trenches and firing shots out of portholes in its side.

The suspect had an ironclad alibi for his whereabouts on the night of the crime.

an ironclad oath or pledge

Observers of the day considered his rule more ironclad than that of the Prendergast machine in Kansas City, or even Tammany Hall in New York.

He is in his seventieth year, and has done work enough in his life to try the most ironclad constitution.

All the previous articles had only elicited a growl here or there from a hide-bound Catholic or from an iron-clad Evangelical, but now his post-bag was full.

Even if you’ve run an ironclad household budget and managed your retirement accounts on your own, you’re about to be at a level of wealth in a different stratosphere. It’s time to hire professionals.

Synonyms for ironclad

Antonyms for ironclad

Related Words

Word Forms

• more ironclad
• most ironclad
• ironclads

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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