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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 hard-boiled In a smaller pot of water over high heat, boil eggs, covered, until just hard-boiled, 7 minutes, then run under cold water. Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2023 For lunch or dinner, top a salad with scrambled or hard-boiled eggs. Amanda MacMillan, Health, 1 Mar. 2023 This is outback noir — oblique, secretive and as hard-boiled as the ground is hard-baked — and Sen wears it well. Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023 As Detective Munch, Mr. Belzer was brainy but hard-boiled, cynical but sensitive. Alex Traub, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-boiled
Adjective
  • Russo, who has avoided serious injury and is set to return to play for Arsenal this month, is an out-and-out centre-forward, a grafter who uses her strength to take care of the ball and stitch play, but is also becoming a more ruthless penalty-box striker.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The way to move up in your organization might require being ruthless.
    Roberta Matuson, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The style is a challenge: should their comedy be smart and savvy or broad and easy-going?
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Generative artificial intelligence will lead to a generation of humans that will use this tool to become 120% smarter than the generation before them—this is the singularity of hope.
    Sam Sammane, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Lottie proposes that Natalie be stripped of her title and that the merciless and vicious Shauna should lead them instead.
    Erin Qualey, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The animal is fully present, merciless and hungry.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Flash mobs in the Loop are a real problem demanding hardheaded solutions.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
  • British officials know this and sometimes despair that their country has not found a way to be more hardheaded.
    Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Only the most astute short-term traders can do well in wild markets; ordinary investors need to keep calm and ignore all the headlines and price gyrations.
    Sal Gilbertie, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • At the same time, Scott’s act of mass ventriloquism—patient, playful, physically astute and ultimately brave—clarifies something at the heart of Chekhov’s play.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, onto some savvy spring shopping curated by WWD editors.
    Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations.
    Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The shrewd 2025 gnome hunter hit the Augusta grounds long before The Masters’ opening round on Thursday.
    Larry Holder, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
  • The moment was also a memorable part of TCU’s dramatic reversal in fortunes, catalyzed by donor investment, a shrewd hiring decision and an all-in approach to the transfer portal.
    Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Such a sharp rise in yield, which corresponds to a sharp drop in price, is unusual, and signaled a broad shift away from U.S. markets, with the U.S. dollar falling in tandem.
    Joe Rennison, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025
  • As part of that effort, Democrats are hoping to exploit the sharp GOP divisions over the value of Medicaid and how deeply Republicans should cut its funding.
    Mike Lillis, The Hill, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Hard-boiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-boiled. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.

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