hardball
noun
hard·ball
ˈhärd-ˌbȯl 
1
: baseball
2
: forceful uncompromising methods employed to gain an end
played political hardball
Examples of hardball in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Common Knowledge On the right, mid-decade redraws are framed as hardball but legitimate.
—
Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Companies play hardball in legal disputes all the time.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Probing 200 mph territory and playing hardball in the big-cat league, only 1,875 coupés and convertibles were made from 2016 to 2020.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
This time around, Schumer is playing hardball.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardball
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Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Companies play hardball in legal disputes all the time.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Probing 200 mph territory and playing hardball in the big-cat league, only 1,875 coupés and convertibles were made from 2016 to 2020.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2025
This time around, Schumer is playing hardball.
—Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardball
Cite this Entry
“Hardball.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hardball. Accessed 3 Dec. 2025.
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