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
Chris, an All-American at Wichita State who reached Triple-A ball in the 1990s, is a hard-nosed, old-school baseball guy who couldn’t stop the waterworks from flowing that day.
—
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
Her job involved convincing hard-nosed procurement officers at Russia’s largest corporations to invest substantial budgets in lighting systems.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Client governments must co-invest upfront, agree on a timetable for taking over full costs, and treat the US as a hard-nosed business partner.
—Bright Simons, semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
The Boston Celtics stand as one of the NBA’s most storied and successful franchises, defined by a rich tradition of winning, hard-nosed teamwork, and a passionate fan base.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 20 Dec. 2025
Her job involved convincing hard-nosed procurement officers at Russia’s largest corporations to invest substantial budgets in lighting systems.
—Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 11 Dec. 2025
Client governments must co-invest upfront, agree on a timetable for taking over full costs, and treat the US as a hard-nosed business partner.
—Bright Simons, semafor.com, 8 Dec. 2025
The Boston Celtics stand as one of the NBA’s most storied and successful franchises, defined by a rich tradition of winning, hard-nosed teamwork, and a passionate fan base.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-nosed
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 Jan. 2026
-
The vinegar cleaning method isn’t foolproof, and sometimes stubborn residue can remain on your microwave walls.—
Gemma Johnstone,
The Spruce,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Stephen Miller made these comments on CNN and was adamant that this would happen.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Jan. 2026
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Although the film would have been far easier to finance if the production took place in another country, Hadi was adamant about shooting in his homeland.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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What alerted them to her location wasn’t footprints or a cell phone ping, however, but rather the sounds of her steadfast pup, Cami.—
Outside,
Outside,
6 Jan. 2026
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The year-on-year increases at each major are more modest, usually between 10 and 12 percent, but that percentage of tournament revenue remains steadfast, if not entirely immovable.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The warrior spirit that exists oftentimes comes across as pretty hardened and crusty and cynical.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
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Microwave one cup of water for three to five minutes to soften hardened food residue, and allow the mixture to sit for up to 15 additional minutes, if needed.—
Emily Hayes,
Martha Stewart,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-nosed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-nosed. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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