as in solemn
not joking or playful in mood or manner
a no-nonsense gymnastics coach
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of no-nonsense
Tengbjerg, a fifty-one-year-old former pro soccer player from Denmark, is fit and trim, with a mischievous, no-nonsense brusqueness not generally associated with massage therapists.
—
Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Oteri will play Monica, a no-nonsense health inspector newly appointed to Happy’s Place.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Oteri is Monica, a no-nonsense health inspector assigned to Happy’s Place.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
As the sometimes mean, always no-nonsense bailiff Roz Russell, Marsha Warfield kept extremely busy on television throughout the '90s, appearing on everything from Empty Nest to Touched by an Angel to Veronica's Closet.
—Dan Heching, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for no-nonsense
Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Oteri will play Monica, a no-nonsense health inspector newly appointed to Happy’s Place.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2025
Oteri is Monica, a no-nonsense health inspector assigned to Happy’s Place.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 8 Sep. 2025
As the sometimes mean, always no-nonsense bailiff Roz Russell, Marsha Warfield kept extremely busy on television throughout the '90s, appearing on everything from Empty Nest to Touched by an Angel to Veronica's Closet.
—Dan Heching, EW.com, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for no-nonsense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for no-nonsense
Adjective
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On Monday, her husband, the Duke of Kent, and daughter Lady Helen Taylor appeared solemn as her coffin was taken by hearse from Kensington Palace to Westminster Cathedral for a private vigil.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Sep. 2025
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No happening is too solemn, in this world, for a heaping portion of unabashed self-promotion.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Serving warrants requires officers to arrest a person suspected of committing a serious crime or secure crucial evidence, both situations that up the chances that a dangerous suspect might be lying in wait.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
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This lightwear pair at Amazon is on sale for $12—a serious deal considering they’re polarized to ensure UV protection, feature a coating that helps protect against water on rainy days, and have a one-piece nosepad that fits snugly on your face without digging in like some of the metal varieties.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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From one side, draped in a dark-blue robe and flanked by an entourage in matching work shirts, Joe Frazier walked slowly through the crowd, stern and granite-jawed.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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Not even the most stern calls to sit down could keep the crowds away, as production staff tried to pave a path for fellow front row faces like rapper Glorilla, Charles Melton, Celtics player Jayson Tatum — who was sidelined late last season with an injury — Elle Fanning, and more.—
Kristen Tauer,
Footwear News,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Fill out a questionnaire, upload a photo, and a professional colorist mixes your perfect blend based on your hair goals and history—right down to the developer strength.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Sep. 2025
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Huang, also a professional military strategist and university professor, told the Washington Examiner that his party sees the DPP’s posturing as a cynical move to build domestic support without considering the long-term consequences.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The company’s events tend to skew earnest for fashion, and this one was no exception, beginning with an address by Yanai—translated live from Japanese, via headsets—featuring various charts and graphs.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
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His interest in deescalation seemed earnest and pleading.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“No-nonsense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/no-nonsense. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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