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
The editors of this list are, in fact, playing hardball.
—
Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Democrats are playing hardball, willing to risk a shutdown to negotiate a better deal with Republicans — and that would also avoid D.C.'s budget cuts.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Sullivan, who would later be praised for leading a revolt against his Senate colleague Tommy Tuberville’s blockade on promotions of military officers, also engaged in some quiet hardball.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 23 Jan. 2025
Now, with the LLCs owning at least half of the units but lacking the 80% threshold required under state law to terminate the condo association and control the property, holdout owners are playing hardball.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hardball
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Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Democrats are playing hardball, willing to risk a shutdown to negotiate a better deal with Republicans — and that would also avoid D.C.'s budget cuts.
—Cuneyt Dil, Axios, 13 Mar. 2025
Sullivan, who would later be praised for leading a revolt against his Senate colleague Tommy Tuberville’s blockade on promotions of military officers, also engaged in some quiet hardball.
—Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 23 Jan. 2025
Now, with the LLCs owning at least half of the units but lacking the 80% threshold required under state law to terminate the condo association and control the property, holdout owners are playing hardball.
—Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 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 21 May. 2025.
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