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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 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 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 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
  • 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
  • Safety researchers have resigned from major companies and issued stern warnings that the advanced technology could pose a risk to the human race, and politicians from across the political spectrum have called for action.
    — Kevin Collier, NBC news, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of stern
Adjective
  • On professional networks, individuals present a polished version of their careers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Talk with someone whose professional life is structured differently.
    — Angela C. Hill, Forbes.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of professional
Adjective
  • Nora’s time in the office, and the relationships that blossom — and one that withers — over the course of that formative span give shape to this earnest, appealing movie about idealism lost but innocence preserved.
    — Natalia Winkelman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Presented on a bold black-and-white print, Ghost Song is an earnest and spiritually rich film that Akin says was born out of a period of crisis in his career.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 18 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 25 Sep. 2026.

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