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 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
  1. solemn
  2. serious
  3. stern
  4. professional
  5. earnest
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
  • Doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs) treat all foot conditions ranging from toenails, bunions, fractures, and plantar fasciitis to serious diabetic foot complications that can lead to limb amputation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2026
  • What began as a hobby to help explain complex redistricting cases more effectively has grown into a serious media operation.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of serious
Adjective
  • 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
  • The new trailer for Paper Tiger transfers this dynamic onto the scene of a rehabilitation project for New York City’s Gowanus Canal, resulting in far graver consequences than a stern talking-to from mom.
    — Isabella Albaig, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • The service From the general manager to the guides and the chefs–everyone is warm, professional and extremely capable.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The top tier of college football, known now as the Football Bowl Subdivision, resembles the professional game more with each passing year, prompting calls to implement rules to better manage the sport.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 6 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
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“No-nonsense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-nonsense. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.

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