steadfast
adjective
Ellen Glasgow
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Steadfast has held its ground for many centuries. Its Old English predecessor, stedefæst, combines stede, meaning "place," and fæst, meaning "fixed." Steadfast was first used in battle contexts to describe warriors who literally stood their ground, which led to its "immovable" sense, as when Sinclair Lewis wrote of "a castle, steadfast among storms." (The word was also once used to describe steady hands, as well as substances that keep their solid, firm state.) These senses were soon joined by one applied to people's character, implying unswerving faith, loyalty, or devotion; arriving in the 12th century, this meaning has remained steady in the English language ever since.
Examples of steadfast in a Sentence
Susanne Biro, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
The administration's steadfast message in recent days has been that the tariffs were coming and there was no way out.
—Ben Berkowitz, Axios, 7 Apr. 2025
Trump’s comments echo those made by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who on Sunday said the administration will remain steadfast in its plans for reciprocal tariffs on major U.S. trading partners, even in the face of the global stock market sell-off.
—Tanaya MacHeel, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
On Thursday, Paxton referenced the end of the federal investigation to take a swing at Cornyn, who has been critical of Paxton’s legal controversies and steadfast in his bid for reelection.
—Kayla Guo, ProPublica, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for steadfast
Cite this Entry
“Steadfast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/steadfast. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
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steadfast
adjective
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