NO NONSENSE Synonyms: 95 Similar and Opposite Words

no-nonsense

adjective

ˈnō-ˌnän-ˌsen(t)s

Definition of no-nonsense

as in solemn

not joking or playful in mood or manner a no-nonsense gymnastics coach

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Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of no-nonsense Whitaker nicely plays the no-nonsense doctor whose priorities dictate the complex solution at hand. — Pete Hammond, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 On another note, the sun in Virgo will meet with Saturn retrograde in Aries, setting the stage for a no-nonsense approach and genuine productivity. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026 His rough exterior and no-nonsense approach tend to typecast him as a football machine devoid of personality or emotion. — Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 His daughter’s no-nonsense nanny, Malvina (Anna Diaz), side-eyes her bougie employers, while Silvina’s scruffy ex-husband, Ricardes (Manuel Garcia Rulfo), creeps around the gardens, occasionally drawing Camilo into a heart-to-heart. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for no-nonsense

Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-nonsense

Adjective

This production, solemn about our obligations to one another but committed to providing a good night out at the theater, is neither.

— Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 2 Oct. 2026
Zack Wheeler pitched a gem against Tampa Bay on Sunday and untangled a few thousand knots inside the stomachs of Phillies fans, and even from those inside a mostly solemn clubhouse.

— CBS News, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of solemn

Adjective

Preliminary information indicates that the explosion occurred near the vessel’s stern deck, resulting in limited damage, a police spokesperson said in a statement.

— Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
As the Pacific Princess’ Captain Stubing, Gavin MacLeod played the stern yet beloved authority figure better than many might’ve expected, given how closely he’d become associated with comedy by that point.

— Will Harris, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of stern

Adjective

Hickel, meanwhile, distinguished the uncertainty facing professional employment from the enduring ability to create art.

— Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
But the fee puts considerable professional access within reach of people financing their own ambitions.

— Philip Martin, Arkansas Online, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of professional

Adjective

A certain ingenuousness, an earnest impatience with the world’s many injustices, is a hallmark of Barbara Kingsolver’s novels.

— Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026
Such requests typically don’t start in earnest until closer to the end of the fourth quarter, which is why most TV networks don’t like to declare sell-out until just days before the Super Bowl starts.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of earnest

Browse Nearby Words

nonofficial

no-nonsense

nonoperating

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Style

“No-nonsense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-nonsense. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of no-nonsense

adjective

Example Sentences

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