Synonyms of hard-nosed

hard-nosed

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈnōzd 

as in stubborn

sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion

the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stubborn
• adamant
• steadfast
• hardened
• uncompromising
• hardheaded
• intransigent
• opinionated
• implacable
• headstrong
• obsessive
• bullheaded
• obstinate
• unbending
• unrelenting
• unyielding
• hard
• dogged
• obdurate
• willful
• inflexible
• mulish
• pertinacious
• immovable
• pigheaded
• strict
• pat
• adamantine
• persistent
• perverse
• relentless
• determined
• ossified
• tenacious
• stiff-necked
• self-willed
• self-opinionated
• inconvincible
• unflinching
• hard-line
• stern
• deaf to reason
• rigid
• iron
• wayward
• cantankerous
• defiant
• wrongheaded
• inexorable
• single-minded
• severe
• resolved
• hidebound
• firm
• hard-shell
• narrow-minded
• indomitable
• uncooperative
• recalcitrant
• anal-retentive
• bloody-minded
• stouthearted
• intractable
• hell-bent
• insubordinate
• contrary
• contumacious
• mutinous
• disobedient
• unruly
• invincible
• inveterate
• refractory
• unmanageable
• insurgent
• exacting
• demanding
• unconquerable
• cussed
• set
• confirmed
• ungovernable
• unregenerate
• froward

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flexible
• amenable
• agreeable
• compliant
• pliant
• acquiescent
• pliable
• obedient
• docile
• complying
• submissive
• tractable
• yielding
• willing
• receptive
• responsive
• reasonable
• accepting
• placable
• relenting
• manageable
• temperate
• subservient
• slavish
• persuadable
• governable

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of hard-nosed

The latest spinoff in the long-running franchise brought Christopher Meloni's hard-nosed detective back into the fold. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 21 May 2026

The hard-nosed bottom six forward, who came to the Wild at the trade deadline after serving as the Chicago Blackhawks’ captain for the past two seasons, scored two of Minnesota’s three goals in the first period of what eventually became an overtime loss to the Colorado Avalanche. — Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 17 May 2026

Known as a hard-nosed and aggressive operator, Williamson worked for former Govs. — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026

And Shamet repaid that trust with 15 points on five-of-six shooting from the field plus hard-nosed defense in 26 minutes of play in the Knicks’ Game 3 victory. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 9 May 2026