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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardheaded
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
The messy middle refers to the difficult decisions that need to be made, guided by science and hardheaded economics.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2024
There’s a poignancy in this confession, but also a hardheaded aspect.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
At this point in a description of a possible future technology, a hardheaded engineer loses interest.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Nov. 2018
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
The messy middle refers to the difficult decisions that need to be made, guided by science and hardheaded economics.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2024
There’s a poignancy in this confession, but also a hardheaded aspect.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
At this point in a description of a possible future technology, a hardheaded engineer loses interest.
—IEEE Spectrum, 15 Nov. 2018
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
Adjective
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Google introduced a new Nest smart speaker last week to go alongside its Gemini smart home upgrades and new security cameras.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
8 Oct. 2025
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Protection against scams comes from continual education that helps older people develop and sustain their skepticism while also increasing their confidence in their ability to make smart, informed decisions.—
Madhusree Mukerjee,
Scientific American,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These two ingredients mixed together creates a powerful mixture perfect for lifting stubborn stains off grout because of their high cleaning and brightening properties.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
10 Oct. 2025
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Scientists have discovered a cleaner, faster way to recycle one of the world’s most stubborn plastics, not with heat or chemicals, but with sheer mechanical force.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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His loving, pragmatic wife, Mi-ri (Son Ye-jin), gamely downsizes their middle-class life to fit their new reality — but her resoluteness only exacerbates his despair.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Oct. 2025
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Ati Motors’ Mecha represents this pragmatic vision for the future of robotics, which is not a humanoid for exhibition but a capable, tireless system designed to work alongside humans in industrial settings.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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New York felt comfortable enough to pick up Thibodeaux’s fifth-year option, but keeping him around in the long term with Abdul Carter and Brian Burns probably isn’t the shrewdest.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Oct. 2025
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The film had transformed from the messy, illogical version I’d first seen into a hilarious, shrewd, contemplative work of art.—
Susan Orlean,
New Yorker,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Paxton, however, has remained adamant that Roberson is guilty of murder.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
9 Oct. 2025
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Republicans remain adamant that any action on, and the details of, reviving the subsidies would have to wait until the government reopens.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Driving down the price after Ingram cleared waivers last week, while acquiring a goaltender with excellent potential and a reasonable track record, is about as astute a move as there is.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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The odd, sometimes astute connections and ideas her seemingly new brain forms are not entirely unpleasant.—
Bekah Waalkes,
The Atlantic,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Previous research has almost always focused on less realistic tests.—
Geoff Colvin,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
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Nola, whose velocity has been down for much of the year and has struggled to control big innings, did not seem like a realistic NLDS rotation candidate.—
Charlotte Varnes,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Koolaburra by Ugg Advay Slip-on Boots These suede boots strike that ideal balance between cozy and practical, complete with a fuzzy faux fur cuff that peeks out for just the right amount of flair.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
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Data are monitored daily by specialists, discussed with surgeons when needed and reviewed weekly with a nurse who provides practical recovery tips.—
Christophe Mouton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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