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no-nonsense

adjective

ˈnō-ˌnän-ˌsen(t)s How to pronounce no-nonsense (audio)
Definition of no-nonsensenext
as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner a no-nonsense gymnastics coach

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The special traces Sheindlin’s path from a spirited childhood in Brooklyn to the New York City courtroom, where her tough, no-nonsense approach caught the attention of television producers. — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 The character type Winstone has made his signature across four decades of screen acting can be described as gruff, straight-shooting, no-nonsense, and often violent. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026 Known to many as YGR, Gonzalez Rogers has developed a reputation for her no-nonsense attitude. — Jeffrey Kopp, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2026 Adding a dose of Rosenwald’s no-nonsense business acumen to our current efforts to execute good works would really help. — Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for no-nonsense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-nonsense
  1. solemn
  2. serious
  3. stern
  4. professional
  5. earnest
Adjective
  • Yom Kippur, which is coming on Monday, is the most solemn time on the Jewish calendar, is a day of introspection, self-examination, self-evaluation, and self-reflection.
    — Marc Schneier, New York Daily News, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The night, centered on the foundation’s ongoing push to fund a cure and support those stigmatized by their HIV status, didn’t end on that solemn note.
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of solemn
Adjective
  • The man was in serious but stable condition at a hospital after being shot once in the torso on the capital city's north side, Austin officials said at a news conference.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Sep. 2026
  • If the issues being talked about weren’t so serious, declaring that machines are now smarter than humans, given this glaring gap between AI agents and their principals, would be a fun keynote for the next AI summit.
    — Bhaskar Chakravorti, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • Chan told him to hold a stern face and let the part do the rest.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Khan himself stars as the outwardly stern but inwardly soft-hearted Etienne, who heads up the dozen-strong medical team.
    — Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • What once seemed powerfully professional now seemed like something meant for a kid’s my-first-tablet device.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Chef’s Knife The chef’s knife is the do-it-all star of any professional or home kitchen.
    — Jesse Raub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of professional
Adjective
  • The paper was a propaganda tool, and whatever Grossman may have wished to write, at first all the editors would permit were inspiring, deadly earnest pieces full of generalities.
    — Nick Holdstock, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Gurjar writes from a reflective, earnest place about navigating the two cities—the significance of cultural preservation, and how cooking brought her closer to herself.
    — The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of earnest

Browse Nearby Words

nonofficial
no-nonsense
nonoperating
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“No-nonsense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-nonsense. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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