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
Starting running back Chuba Hubbard, a hard-nosed player with a knack for breaking tackles, represented Carolina’s surest path to an upset.
—
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Buffalo’s Alex Tuch, for example, fits the mold of the big, hard-nosed player that the Rangers tend to like.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Sanae Takaichi, the pro-stimulus conservative poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister, is an energetic nationalist with a soft spot for the hard-nosed politics of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher and the heavy metal music of Iron Maiden.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
The first-team offense goes against the first-team defense with less elaborate play calls and more hard-nosed competition.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
Buffalo’s Alex Tuch, for example, fits the mold of the big, hard-nosed player that the Rangers tend to like.
—Peter Baugh, New York Times, 9 Oct. 2025
Sanae Takaichi, the pro-stimulus conservative poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister, is an energetic nationalist with a soft spot for the hard-nosed politics of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher and the heavy metal music of Iron Maiden.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
The first-team offense goes against the first-team defense with less elaborate play calls and more hard-nosed competition.
—Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-nosed
Adjective
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That tone—of pain, of surprise, of a stubborn refusal to be reduced or diminished—is everywhere in it.—
Questlove,
The Atlantic,
7 Nov. 2025
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If the stain is stubborn, add a few drops of dish soap to the water and vinegar mixture.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The attorney general was adamant that if Running Fence broke the law, workers would be arrested and jailed, and contractors would lose their licenses.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Nov. 2025
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Lownie is adamant that their friendship dates back to 1991.—
Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The balance of power in Mississippi is shifting away from extremism and chaos and toward champions of working families, driven by Democrats’ steadfast commitment to their communities.—
Daniel Orton,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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But the disruption is already wreaking havoc on the normally steadfast program.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Still, some military analysts remain cautious, noting that satellites are built to endure intense cosmic radiation with hardened components and shielding, leaving open the question of whether such directed energy could penetrate these defenses.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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If this group of hardened degenerates was able to enjoy the action at this level, who, exactly, are the spiritual victims of sports betting?—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-nosed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-nosed. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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