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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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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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
In the complicated, thorny, offensive, manipulative, sometimes hilarious, sometimes uncomfortable video interview, which evokes the feeling of an uncle sitting down with his hardheaded nephew, Thug is reeling and full of so much anxiety that his legs are shaking.
—
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Sep. 2025
Flash mobs in the Loop are a real problem demanding hardheaded solutions.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
British officials know this and sometimes despair that their country has not found a way to be more hardheaded.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Sep. 2025
Flash mobs in the Loop are a real problem demanding hardheaded solutions.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
British officials know this and sometimes despair that their country has not found a way to be more hardheaded.
—Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
Adjective
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And Tucker is really not smart enough to understand that.—
Will Steakin,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The crowd is a smart mix of stylists, hoteliers, shop owners, restaurateurs, students, tastemakers, and creative directors, alongside the usual magazine editors, museum curators, artists, and gallerists.—
Katherine McGrath,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Early connections should feel easier as affectionate Venus forms a supportive sextile with intense Pluto, encouraging us to handle stubborn issues with honest talks and practical teamwork.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
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Spend less time focusing on prep and cleaning and more time focusing on the food with our favorite kitchen tools, which can make poached eggs in minutes, reseal bags of ingredients, open stubborn jars, and more.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
That was a pragmatic starting point.—
Steven Fulop,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
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If the regime falls, China would probably pursue pragmatic engagement with whatever authority emerges, safeguarding its economic interests in transactional fashion.—
John Calabrese,
The Conversation,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For the past 35 years, Colleen Murphy has been in the front ranks of protecting our right to know, many of those years as the shrewd general of the ragtag good government army.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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The dispensing of moral instruction is an often tiresome staple of child-friendly animation, but the lessons that Mabel must learn—to be less impulsive, less strident, and more willing to see the good in others—also turn out to be shrewd organizational and negotiating tactics.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Even at that, Panthers coach Paul Maurice remains adamant all the trade rumors were blown out of proportion in the first place.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
13 Mar. 2026
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Berg is adamant that any kind of sleeper—we’re talking side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers alike—would like this supportive style.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This effectively sets X-ray astronomy back by a decade, with the earliest realistic timeline for an X-ray flagship now looking like the 2050s or even 2060s.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Mar. 2026
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Yet officials are also realistic about their limitations.—
Collin Binkley,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Once a spindly but speedy left midfielder, the 25-year-old Ahmed has developed into a tactically astute and fearless attacking player who has adapted to the physical English Championship with Norwich City far quicker than expected.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Not all the time, not in a deeply debilitating way, but enough that his ongoing battle with right-knee tendinitis has become part of his tennis-playing identity — as much as his astute court acumen, steadfast competitiveness and Southern California charisma.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Your 2nd house also supports practical purchases, which is a great reminder to make durable, budget-respectful choices over flashy upgrades.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Gas prices are rising again, and many drivers are looking for practical ways to save money at the pump as costs climb.—
Keith Laing,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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