iron-clad
Impossible to break
Iron-clad means protected by iron armor or, more commonly now, so firm and secure as to be unbreakable.
An iron-clad guarantee or iron-clad alibi leaves no room for doubt or challenge.
The term originated with 19th-century warships covered in iron plates, which were nearly impervious to enemy fire.
That sense of invulnerability transferred to contracts, rules, and arguments that cannot be easily defeated or circumvented.
Armed naval vessel
- battleshipArmored naval capital vessel
- gunboatSmall armed naval vessel
- vesselReceptacle for contents
- navalOf maritime warfare
fleet · monitor · plating · hull · turret · ram · broadside · cannon
Enforceable written agreement
- agreementShared position between parties
- guaranteeFormal promise of fulfillment
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
- obligationRequired task or commitment
promise · covenant · pledge · oath · vow · bond · compact · stipulation
Impossible to disprove
- incontrovertibleImpossible to deny
- undeniableImpossible to contradict
- unassailableImpossible to attack successfully
- conclusiveEnding all debate
definitive · unquestionable · airtight · bulletproof · foolproof · rock-solid · certain · absolute
Unable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- strictRigorous, without flexibility
- uncompromisingRefusing to yield ground
immutable · fixed · hardened · stern · unrelenting · implacable · adamant · resolute
warship
Armed naval vessel
- battleshipArmored naval capital vessel
- gunboatSmall armed naval vessel
- vesselReceptacle for contents
naval · fleet · monitor · plating · hull · turret · ram · broadside · cannon · ironside
contract
Enforceable written agreement
- agreementShared position between parties
- guaranteeFormal promise of fulfillment
- commitmentFirm pledge to act
obligation · promise · covenant · pledge · oath · vow · bond · compact · stipulation · undertaking
irrefutable
Impossible to disprove
- incontrovertibleImpossible to deny
- undeniableImpossible to contradict
- unassailableImpossible to attack successfully
conclusive · definitive · unquestionable · airtight · bulletproof · foolproof · rock-solid · certain · absolute · decisive
inflexible
Unable to bend
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- strictRigorous, without flexibility
uncompromising · immutable · fixed · hardened · stern · unrelenting · implacable · adamant · resolute · immovable
- ___-clad words
iron-cladfragile
Easily broken or damaged
flimsy · weak · delicate · brittle · vulnerable
iron-cladbreakable
Capable of shattering
voidable · revocable · contestable · disputable · questionable