1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a hardheaded politician who never hesitated to set aside principle in favor of expediency
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
Granny remained hardheaded about keeping her house and not moving into a nursing home
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3
as in pragmatic
willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly
a hardheaded minister who understands the difficulties teenagers face today
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Recent Examples of hardheaded
Kayce sells Yellowstone Ranch for $1.25 an acre and Elsa Dutton rises from the dead to declare victory
Kayce cryptically suggested the Yellowstone sale at the end of last week's episode, and the hardheaded financial wonder Beth loved the idea.
—
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
When Buck resigned, the conservative cited a flank of the Republican Party’s hardheaded politics and unwavering devotion to Trump — traits that made Boebert a name brand.
—Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
There’s a poignancy in this confession, but also a hardheaded aspect.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
Over his lifetime, Aron was a hardheaded defender of liberal values in the face of fascist and totalitarian ideological challengers.
—Raymond Aron, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
When Buck resigned, the conservative cited a flank of the Republican Party’s hardheaded politics and unwavering devotion to Trump — traits that made Boebert a name brand.
—Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
There’s a poignancy in this confession, but also a hardheaded aspect.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
Over his lifetime, Aron was a hardheaded defender of liberal values in the face of fascist and totalitarian ideological challengers.
—Raymond Aron, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
Adjective
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If you’re just getting started with rebounding and want something compact and easy to use (that doesn’t cost a small fortune), here’s a smart entry point.—
Jordan Galloway,
SELF,
15 July 2025
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Instead of chasing trends, smart companies stay committed to long-term brand building and reputation management.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Beneath its surface were deep, dark scars—grooves cut through the rock by old lava flows, now overgrown with stubborn green.—
Tess Moormans,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
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The fizzing reaction can help remove stubborn residues.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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There was a noticeable dip in his form last season after the turn of the calendar year but the 32-year-old represents a pragmatic option to people at United.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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Ditto a handful of pragmatic choices that can easily be amended and improved as things evolve.—
Bob Gendron,
Chicago Tribune,
16 July 2025
Adjective
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Though plot details for Wake Up Dead Man remain tightly under wraps, audiences can expect the return of the shrewd detective parsing through yet another murderous mystery.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
12 July 2025
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Drummer Daru Jones, who was part of The LOX’s Tiny Desk, perfectly delivered a live remake of the thumping drums heard on the 2002 track, mirroring The Neptunes’ shrewd production from over two decades ago.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Since camp got underway, he's been adamant that winning games is far more important than his personal stats.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
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Liverpool communicated an interest in acquiring the Sweden international for around £120m, though Newcastle have been adamant for months that Isak is not for sale.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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The expectation is that the AGI and ASI would be computationally astute enough to decide when the AI maker is offering proper instructions versus improper ones.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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And while the Lynx are also offensively astute, their production on that end jumps to new heights when the opportunities are derived from defensive success.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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The result features many innovations never before seen in a humanoid figure, including new methods to create more realistic skin and replicate the twinkle in Walt’s eye which Imagineers established was because of what is known as a corneal bulge.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Could physicists resolve Penrose’s singularities by moving to something a little more quantum, and therefore a little more realistic?—
Charlie Wood,
Wired News,
20 July 2025
Adjective
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Gillis and Trachtenberg explained how for the first time in the Predator movies, the face of the creature wasn’t practical, always a very challenging task, because nuanced emotional expressions were called for in which the alien was the hero.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
26 July 2025
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Cable remains a popular and practical internet solution for many households, especially where fiber isn't yet available.—
Roxanne Downer,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 1 Aug. 2025.
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