hardball

noun

hard·ball ˈhärd-ˌbȯl

: baseball

: forceful uncompromising methods employed to gain an end

played political hardball

Examples of hardball in a Sentence

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Sullivan, who would later be praised for leading a revolt against his Senate colleague Tommy Tuberville’s blockade on promotions of military officers, also engaged in some quiet hardball. —

Mckenzie Funk, ProPublica, 23 Jan. 2025 Now, with the LLCs owning at least half of the units but lacking the 80% threshold required under state law to terminate the condo association and control the property, holdout owners are playing hardball. —

Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald, 24 Jan. 2025 The bans are the latest example of Indonesia playing hardball as new President Prabowo Subianto seeks to pressure international firms to boost local manufacturing, which would be a boon for domestic industries. —

Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Asia, 17 Apr. 2024 Playing hardball in negotiations doesn't mean the club doesn't want to retain the Polar Bear, though. —

George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 31 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hardball