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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intelligence
exceptional discernment and judgment especially in practical matters
the hardheadedness of a bean counter
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardheaded
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
When Buck resigned, the conservative cited a flank of the Republican Party’s hardheaded politics and unwavering devotion to Trump — traits that made Boebert a name brand.
—Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
There’s a poignancy in this confession, but also a hardheaded aspect.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
Over his lifetime, Aron was a hardheaded defender of liberal values in the face of fascist and totalitarian ideological challengers.
—Raymond Aron, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Adjective
Kayce sells Yellowstone Ranch for $1.25 an acre and Elsa Dutton rises from the dead to declare victory
Kayce cryptically suggested the Yellowstone sale at the end of last week's episode, and the hardheaded financial wonder Beth loved the idea.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024
When Buck resigned, the conservative cited a flank of the Republican Party’s hardheaded politics and unwavering devotion to Trump — traits that made Boebert a name brand.
—Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
There’s a poignancy in this confession, but also a hardheaded aspect.
—Jason Zinoman, New York Times, 2 June 2024
Over his lifetime, Aron was a hardheaded defender of liberal values in the face of fascist and totalitarian ideological challengers.
—Raymond Aron, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
Adjective
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Yamaha started with their largest offshore outboard, the XTO 450, and made some smart changes to handle hydrogen.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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But smart leaders know that not all bets are created equal—and not all uncertainty plays by the same rules.—
Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Why Communication Training Often Fails To Stick Some people are very stubborn and stick to their communication style, even when confronted.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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The most glaring of those misses came against Arsenal in October, with Bournemouth trying to break down a stubborn defence following William Saliba’s dismissal.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But trying to tell the wide-eyed students that trees are soulless breaks Janine’s determination to remain pragmatic.—
Ile-Ife Okantah,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2025
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Harvard's response has been both principled and pragmatic.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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OpenAI recommends including three key reminders in all agent prompts: persistence (keeping going until resolution), tool-calling (using available tools rather than guessing), and planning (thinking before acting).—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
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Zaragoza’s persistence, and Martinez’s gamble to uproot his family, were massively rewarded in the years that followed.—
Joshua Korber Hoffman,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Trump earlier this year shut off U.S. military assistance and intelligence sharing for nearly two weeks in the wake of an explosive Oval Office spat with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was arguing Putin was a deceptive negotiating partner.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
18 Apr. 2025
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Local media report that several individuals formerly employed by senior DPP officials are under investigation in connection with Chinese intelligence efforts.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Getting Jones in Round 5 in 2022 was a shrewd move, but the Bears need more Day 2 and Day 3 hits.—
Brad Biggs,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2025
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Unlike Malone’s many shrewd moves over decades in the media business, however, the WBD merger hasn’t yet borne fruit.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Since then, White House officials have remained adamant about sticking by Hegseth, even as criticism has mounted in recent weeks and questions about his judgment have resurfaced.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
22 Apr. 2025
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Despite the significant decline, the Trump administration is adamant about shoring up the border to ensure it is left secure before leaving office.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With a breezy wit displayed over his thirty-plus-year career (including his breakout commentary during the 2024 Olympics which cemented his global influence), the artist observed the rare confluence of holidays with a simple image of himself as the Easter Bunny on X, formerly Twitter.—
Jeanie Pyun,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2025
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Maher, who has spent decades fine-tuning his brand of biting, socially charged humor to make sense of complex, often uncomfortable issues, brings a sharp wit that’s more thoughtful and layered than he’s often given credit for.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 1 May. 2025.
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