hard-nosed

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈnōzd 

1

: being tough, stubborn, or uncompromising

2

: hardheaded sense 2, tough-minded

Synonyms

• stubborn
• adamant
• steadfast
• hardened

Examples of hard-nosed in a Sentence

the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody

Recent Examples on the Web

The top-four right side isn’t pretty with Gudas and Trouba, a couple of physical, hard-nosed veterans who are serviceable, but likely to get caved in with high-leverage roles. —Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025

Sanae Takaichi, the pro-stimulus conservative poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister, is an energetic nationalist with a soft spot for the hard-nosed politics of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher and the heavy metal music of Iron Maiden. —Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025

So far in camp, Eyssimont has been on a line with Kuraly and hard-nosed center/wing Mark Kastelic. —Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 19 Sep. 2025

The first-team offense goes against the first-team defense with less elaborate play calls and more hard-nosed competition. —Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hard-nosed

• decomposed
• discomposed
• indisposed
• interposed
• juxtaposed
• predisposed
• presupposed
• reimposed
• superposed
• undisclosed
• undisposed
• unenclosed