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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard-nosed
The president told The Scott Jennings Radio Show that the concession resulted from his hard-nosed negotiating skills.
—
Jamie McIntyre, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Assume the role of the hard-nosed journalist, skeptical investor, or cautious head of HR.
—Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Both of those are hard-nosed defenses, similar to the playing style Peppers has always brought to the field.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Katie Honan, a hard-nosed City Hall reporter for the nonprofit newsroom The City, was there to cover the opening of a new campaign office for Adams’s independent, desperate, long-shot bid to win reëlection.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Jamie McIntyre, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
Assume the role of the hard-nosed journalist, skeptical investor, or cautious head of HR.
—Rhea Wessel, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
Both of those are hard-nosed defenses, similar to the playing style Peppers has always brought to the field.
—Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Katie Honan, a hard-nosed City Hall reporter for the nonprofit newsroom The City, was there to cover the opening of a new campaign office for Adams’s independent, desperate, long-shot bid to win reëlection.
—Eric Lach, New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-nosed
Adjective
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Originally bred in Germany to hunt badgers, these small canines are energetic, bold and stubborn.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Both options meant navigating some stubborn supporters.—
Kevin Coulson,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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To their credit, Wild GM Bill Guerin and owner Craig Leipold were adamant that wasn’t going to happen and got a deal done.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
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His family, as well as his legal team, are adamant that Combs has been rehabilitated and should be released.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Since trading for Mitchell in the summer of 2022, Cleveland has held steadfast in the belief that its contention window truly opens when Mobley is up for it.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Despite the growing frustration surrounding the play, Payton remains steadfast in his belief that the play should not be outlawed.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Those hardened positions have quashed behind-the-scenes efforts by a group of moderate Democrats and Republicans to work out some sort of mutual understanding or soft deal to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month.—
Alexander Bolton,
The Hill,
30 Sep. 2025
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What lingers as the end credits roll is Daniel Day-Lewis’ noble face — full of sorrow, resentment, guilt and shame, emotions that Ray spends much of the early action masking in hardened indifference.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-nosed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-nosed. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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