ironclad
1 of 2adjective
iron·clad ˈī(-ə)rn-ˈklad 
1
: sheathed in iron armor —used especially of naval vessels
2
: so firm or secure as to be unbreakable: such as
a
: binding
an ironclad oath
b
: having no obvious weakness
an ironclad case against the defendant
ironclad
2 of 2noun
iron·clad ˈī(-ə)rn-ˌklad
: an armored naval vessel especially of the mid to late 19th century
Example Sentences
Adjective The company has an ironclad policy against revealing secrets to competitors. He has an ironclad alibi.
Recent Examples on the Web
Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022 This ironclad rule makes the recent publication of a book by Stacey Morgan, The Astronaut's Wife, notable. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2022 But that is a convention, rather than an ironclad rule. Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 It should be noted that predictions like the NOAA’s aren’t ironclad, and its experts recently revised their earlier report with new guidance lowering the chance of an above-average storm season from 65 percent to 60 percent. Dan Carson, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 Following criticism from allies, Israeli officials doubled down, insisting that evidence against the groups was ironclad. Dov Lieber And Aaron Boxerman, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 One of the most noteworthy ships is the Civil War-era USS Monitor, a 240-feet ironclad warship built for the Union Navy and completed in 1862. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 May 2022 Biel and Timberlake, along with Ritter, are first onscreen together during an interrogation, and Candy seems to have an ironclad and agreeable response for each of their probing questions. Ashley Leestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022 The six-game suspension, therefore, isn’t necessarily ironclad even though the NFLPA didn’t cross appeal it. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 8 Aug. 2022 Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 1 May 2018 In 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va. BostonGlobe.com, 9 Mar. 2018 See More
Adjective
Over the last seven years, there has only been one ironclad rule of GOP politics: The only excommunicable sin is to go against Donald Trump. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 2 Sep. 2022 This ironclad rule makes the recent publication of a book by Stacey Morgan, The Astronaut's Wife, notable. Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 15 Aug. 2022 But that is a convention, rather than an ironclad rule. Washington Post, 21 Apr. 2022 It should be noted that predictions like the NOAA’s aren’t ironclad, and its experts recently revised their earlier report with new guidance lowering the chance of an above-average storm season from 65 percent to 60 percent. Dan Carson, Chron, 2 Sep. 2022 Following criticism from allies, Israeli officials doubled down, insisting that evidence against the groups was ironclad. Dov Lieber And Aaron Boxerman, WSJ, 18 Aug. 2022 One of the most noteworthy ships is the Civil War-era USS Monitor, a 240-feet ironclad warship built for the Union Navy and completed in 1862. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 21 May 2022 Biel and Timberlake, along with Ritter, are first onscreen together during an interrogation, and Candy seems to have an ironclad and agreeable response for each of their probing questions. Ashley Leestaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 11 May 2022 The six-game suspension, therefore, isn’t necessarily ironclad even though the NFLPA didn’t cross appeal it. Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland, 8 Aug. 2022 Noun
During the Civil War, Eads won a contract to build Union ironclads. Mike Scott, NOLA.com, 1 May 2018 In 1862, during the Civil War, the ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimac) clashed for five hours to a draw at Hampton Roads, Va. BostonGlobe.com, 9 Mar. 2018 See More Word History
First Known Use
Adjective
circa 1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1862, in the meaning defined above
ironclads
noun
as in warships
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- warships
- steamers
- steamships
- merchantmen
- barges
- ships
- freighters
- tankers
- corvettes
- lightships
- colliers
- men-of-war
- containerships
- cruisers
- ferryboats
- cutters
- flagships
- argosies
- traders
- destroyers
- supertankers
- merchant ships
- aircraft carriers
- motor ships
- liners
- boats
- coasters
- transports
- keels
- men-o'-war
- packets
- watercrafts
- icebreakers
- superliners
- tramps
- brigantines
- vessels
- caravels
- schooners
- brigs
- ketches
- sailboats
- barques
- yachts
- windjammers
- tall ships
- barks
- junk
- clippers
- square-riggers
- xebecs