hardheadedness

noun

1
as in persistence
a steadfast adherence to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion her unrelenting hardheadedness didn't win many friends, but it helped her to get her way most of the time

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters the hardheadedness of a bean counter

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheadedness
  1. persistence
  2. intelligence
  3. stubbornness
  4. wit
  5. persistency
  6. wisdom
  7. intransigence
  8. shrewdness
Noun
  • On Wednesday night, Budapest recorded its warmest overnight temperature on record, with temperatures falling only to 28 C (82 F), underscoring the persistence of the extreme heat.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • This quiet midseason retirement, following his last game on July 25, highlights the often-unheralded end to dedicated minor league careers, even for those showing persistence and loyalty to a single franchise.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of persistence
Noun
  • Secretary of State Marco Rubio also defended the military strikes, saying at a Senate hearing in June that the Defense Department determined the strikes' legality and based its decisions on intelligence information.
    — Chris Boccia, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • So that expedited growth also reflects Simmons’ drive and intelligence — among other traits that animate the athleticism of his 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame and powerful left throwing arm.
    — Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of intelligence
Noun
  • And the stubbornness of that demand is, to me, the most important and most underappreciated story in rental housing right now.
    — Brad Hunter, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Penelope is Odysseus’ equal, in cunning, in stubbornness, in wiles.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 July 2026
Definition of stubbornness
Noun
  • But blessed with unusual wit and sensitivity, as well as a delightful young cast, the Amazon drama nevertheless stands out as something special.
    — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Olson was known for her wit, honesty and way of making people feel welcome and important, the obituary added.
    — David Chiu, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of wit
Noun
  • The Home Service Insurance segment experienced a decline in premiums, attributed to strategic actions to improve sales quality and persistency, as well as economic pressures such as inflation.
    — Quartz Intelligence Newsroom, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The tannins are well structured yet soft and the wine has great persistency in the finish.
    — Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 2 May 2023
Definition of persistency
Noun
  • One way in which Wounaan do so is conscientiously sharing and redistributing food, money, wisdom and the like to foster equity.
    — Chenier Carpio Opua, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2026
  • For decades when someone found a lost pet, the prevailing wisdom was to take the dog or cat straight to a local animal shelter.
    — Jen Reeder, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of wisdom
Noun
  • Fatigue with the stagnation inherent in contemporary democratic institutions is among the key factors that make the promise to break through intransigence by autocratic leaders attractive to a plurality of voters.
    — Wendell Wallach, Hartford Courant, 25 June 2026
  • Instead, the courts are dealing with intransigence from the city.
    — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 13 May 2026
Definition of intransigence
Noun
  • Spain’s shrewdness came in their refusal to engage with off-the-ball trivialities.
    — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Instead, Franklin will rise by virtue of hard work and (actual) shrewdness.
    — John Swansburg, The Atlantic, 15 June 2026
Definition of shrewdness
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

hardheaded
hardheadedness
hardheads
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hardheadedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheadedness. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nurture

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
fridge-magnet-letters
Drop a Letter Quiz August 2026 Drop a letter from a word to make a totally diffe...
See All