hard-ass

noun

slang, often vulgar
: a tough, demanding, or uncompromising person
hard-assed adjective often vulgar

Examples of hard-ass in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The meanie store manager (played, with cartoony hard-ass villainy, by Peter Dinklage) refuses to make a donation, so Manchester gathers a bagful of (stolen) toys and brings them over to the church himself. Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 10 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hard-ass was in 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Hard-ass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard-ass. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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