hard-nosed

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈnōzd 

1

: being tough, stubborn, or uncompromising

a hard-nosed boss

2

: hardheaded sense 2, tough-minded

Synonyms of hard-nosed

• 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

Murphy plays a hard-nosed game and talks trash, which often puts more of a spotlight on her extracurriculars, but make no mistake, this is an ultra-elite player. —Hailey Salvian, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026

Comets head coach Stefan Stokic remembers those days well as an iconic, hard-nosed player, scoring twice in the Comets’ defeat of Baltimore in December 2016. —Nathan Dunn, Kansas City Star, 24 Mar. 2026

Clemson coach Brad Brownell, now in his 16th season, leads a hard-nosed, balanced group. —Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 Mar. 2026

One year ago, Georgetown was deemed too small and too inexperienced – yet the Royals developed a hard-nosed defensive identity that led to their first state championship in program history. —Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 11 Mar. 2026

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