as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard-nosed
For decades, Tottenham Hotspur has been desperately seeking a hard-nosed winner.
—
Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Led by Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam and a hard-nosed defense, Indiana took a surprising 48-47 lead into halftime.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
In the end, the resolution of the love triangle doesn’t evoke a triumph of wild passion over hard-nosed calculation.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
However, she was hounded by the Golden State Valkyries hard-nosed defense, going 0-for-7 from three in the loss.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
Led by Eastern Conference Finals MVP Pascal Siakam and a hard-nosed defense, Indiana took a surprising 48-47 lead into halftime.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 23 June 2025
In the end, the resolution of the love triangle doesn’t evoke a triumph of wild passion over hard-nosed calculation.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
However, she was hounded by the Golden State Valkyries hard-nosed defense, going 0-for-7 from three in the loss.
—Devin Robertson, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-nosed
Adjective
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Beneath its surface were deep, dark scars—grooves cut through the rock by old lava flows, now overgrown with stubborn green.—
Tess Moormans,
Travel + Leisure,
27 July 2025
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The fizzing reaction can help remove stubborn residues.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Adjective
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Since camp got underway, he's been adamant that winning games is far more important than his personal stats.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 July 2025
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Liverpool communicated an interest in acquiring the Sweden international for around £120m, though Newcastle have been adamant for months that Isak is not for sale.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Adjective
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Our volunteer firefighters represent the best of us, exemplifying a steadfast commitment to service and sacrifice.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
29 July 2025
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Greek life, despite its understandable divisiveness, is a steadfast tradition on most Southern college campuses.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-nosed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-nosed. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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