hard-edged

adjective

Definition of hard-edgednext
as in unsentimental

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of hard-edged The Good, the Bad and the Painterly As Bouancheau fashioned a Puss that was more lyrical, like a character that stepped out of a fairy tale book and less hard-edged, all the other characters followed suit. — Karen Idelson, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-edged
  1. unsentimental
  2. tough-minded
  3. unromantic
  4. bottom-line
  5. cynical
  6. grounded
  7. logical
  8. rational
Adjective
  • Smith Galer has much to say against the case for putting languages out of their misery, but her focus is on a point with which even the most unsentimental can surely sympathize.
    — Nikhil Krishnan, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
  • Her rigidly unsentimental mother, however, sees only urban labor and profitably arranged marriage in her future.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of unsentimental
Adjective
  • Everyone who watches Cochran sees a hard-nosed, tough-minded center back who makes an impact at both ends of the field.
    — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 10 July 2026
  • Those are two tough-minded veterans.
    — David Aldridge, New York Times, 25 June 2026
Definition of tough-minded
Adjective
  • Gorgeous cinematography and a very unromantic portrayal of the grueling life of a secret agent make this a solid watch.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
  • This idea was supposed to be the kind of thing that could convince even the most unromantic skeptics that space exploration was not only spiritually fulfilling, but economically advantageous.
    — Elena Saavedra Buckley, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of unromantic
Adjective
  • What’s your bottom-line advice for families who want to help their children eat more fruits and vegetables?
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Both top- and bottom-line metrics beat Wall Street expectations.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 22 July 2026
Definition of bottom-line
Adjective
  • Tentpoles with integrity will be especially important as generative AI makes the industry’s appetite for replicable content more cynical by the day.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 July 2026
  • In its portrayal of cross-gender relations, the series is consistently cruel to women, insulting to men, empathetic toward nobody and cynical about everything.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 22 July 2026
Definition of cynical
Adjective
  • The production feels more grounded and more nuanced than that of The Secret of Us, whose rootsy foundation sometimes had a plastic sheen.
    — Molly Mary O’Brien, Pitchfork, 17 July 2026
  • And remember, headlines about economic uncertainty can create additional stress, so do your best to stay grounded and separate information from alarm.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of grounded
Adjective
  • Sholl also notes that the largest station groups may not immediately rush to buy competitors because many of the most logical acquirers are already shouldering a lot of debt.
    — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 23 July 2026
  • At a glance, de-normalizing alcohol consumption seems like a logical next step after cracking down on smoking.
    — Tim Brinkhof, Time, 23 July 2026
Definition of logical
Adjective
  • His research now reveals revenge operates like an addiction in the brain, activating craving and reward centers while silencing rational thought.
    — Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The pair’s mysterious interactions in the early chapters give way to a series of parables of doubt and belief, in which a rational character is confronted by an irrational event—and immediately convinced of its absolute truth.
    — Robert Rubsam, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026
Definition of rational

Browse Nearby Words

hard-driving
hard-edged
harden
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Cite this Entry

“Hard-edged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-edged. Accessed 27 Jul. 2026.

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