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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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January 20 – February 18 A smarter routine or work shift could make life feel noticeably lighter today.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
10 May 2026
-
Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A smarter routine or work shift could make life feel noticeably lighter today.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
Abby, how does one work with stubborn husbands?—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
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Ahead, Katie Sullivan, the director of issue communications at the American Cleaning Institute, shares the best way to remove sticky, greasy residue from pot lids, at-home solutions for tackling even the most stubborn residue, and the one mistake to avoid that can make cleanup more difficult.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
9 May 2026
Adjective
-
Prior to his first season leading LAFC, Dos Santos said his coaching style is more aggressive than pragmatic.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
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But ahead of the Sky’s season-opening 98-83 win Saturday night against the expansion Portland Fire at the Moda Center, starting point guard Skylar Diggins voiced a pragmatic outlook on the team’s opening weeks of the season.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Adjective
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But another Cox trade — sending pitcher Doyle Alexander to Detroit for a minor-leaguer named John Smoltz in 1987 — is considered one of the shrewdest in baseball history.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
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Twice, its shrewd business practices caught federal regulators’ attention.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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The French film industry is very adamant about showing films in theaters and maintaining a long theatrical window.—
John Ross,
Vanity Fair,
7 May 2026
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Be adamant, not alarmist, as Mars squares off with Jupiter.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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When asked about a realistic amount that could be collected from the verdict, Butcher said the aim is to collect every non-exempt asset possible.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 May 2026
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At this point, those agitating against the merger might see their most realistic option being to lobby for conditions on the merger, such as job-protection guarantees or production minimums.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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An astute judge of talent, Metheny has hired and nurtured a fair number of outstanding musicians in his bands over the years from far and near.—
George Varga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Tactful and politically astute, Pakula had earlier directed The Parallax View, the Warren Beatty thriller about political assassinations.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Capricorn December 22 – January 19 A sharp conversation could unlock practical momentum surprisingly fast today.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
12 May 2026
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What begins as one practical step could raise your profile significantly.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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