1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a hardheaded politician who never hesitated to set aside principle in favor of expediency
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
Granny remained hardheaded about keeping her house and not moving into a nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pragmatic
willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly
a hardheaded minister who understands the difficulties teenagers face today
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hardheaded
Over his lifetime, Aron was a hardheaded defender of liberal values in the face of fascist and totalitarian ideological challengers.
—
Raymond Aron, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Meryl is a hardheaded Candide, a sharp-eyed Don Quixote.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
For the sake of both regional stability and long-term U.S. security, Washington needs to sustain a hardheaded, clear-eyed empathy for the interests of the Russians as well as of the Ukrainians and other nationalities.
—Frank Costigliola, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2023
But behind the display of friendship was a backdrop of hardheaded geopolitics.
—Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Raymond Aron, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024
Meryl is a hardheaded Candide, a sharp-eyed Don Quixote.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 15 Nov. 2023
For the sake of both regional stability and long-term U.S. security, Washington needs to sustain a hardheaded, clear-eyed empathy for the interests of the Russians as well as of the Ukrainians and other nationalities.
—Frank Costigliola, Foreign Affairs, 27 Jan. 2023
But behind the display of friendship was a backdrop of hardheaded geopolitics.
—Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
Adjective
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Generic 20ft Prefabricated Expandable House $16,999 at Amazon With nearly 400 square feet of space, this tiny house features a smart layout that makes use of every inch.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
29 Mar. 2025
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Take smart risks now to avoid catch-up costs later.—
Martin Zwilling,
Forbes.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Happy Birthday for Saturday, March 29, 2025: You are opinionated and stubborn.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2025
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Described by family as larger-than-life in personality and stature, the 6-foot-5-inch Wesley is remembered as a jovial, fiercely stubborn man with a quick wit and passion for advocacy.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Nonetheless, the current revisions mark a step towards a more balanced and pragmatic approach to beneficial ownership information reporting and acknowledgement of the burdens the reporting placed on small businesses.—
Joshua D. Smeltzer,
Forbes,
24 Mar. 2025
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Moreover, Hungary and others could act as spoilers and block pragmatic solutions within the EU.—
Jack Watling,
Foreign Affairs,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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These people painted a picture of a shrewd capitalist, making practical calculations to protect his businesses.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
20 Mar. 2025
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Their shrewd negotiators would undoubtedly invoke American precedent to subdivide their political entities.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Nobody’s shooting on this season’s Longhorns would be mistaken for Stephen Curry’s, but Schaefer is adamant that this group stands out among his 20-year head-coaching career.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Still, Jenkins was adamant about not moving to the city.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
27 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Pelosi, 84, is serving her 20th term representing her San Francisco district in Congress and is seen by many as one of the most astute and impressive American political leaders in modern times.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
16 Mar. 2025
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Andrews' nuanced design of P.L. Travers' creation is an astute, mellifluous, and delightfully intimidating creature of talent and propriety — and as the world would realize, so, too, was Andrews.—
EW Staff,
EW.com,
2 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Devil May Cry 5 (2019) retained the basis of the classic combat, but not without betting on a bigger role for its story, while pushing for a more realistic presentation all around.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
22 Mar. 2025
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For many parts of the U.S., banishing cars simply isn’t realistic in the absence of comprehensive public transportation and high-density redesigns that often lack political or taxpayer backing.—
Megha Satyanarayana,
Scientific American,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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This April, the discount grocery chain is stocking its shelves with adorable decor, practical porch and patio furniture, and charming Easter tableware—plus snacks, appetizers, mains, and desserts with seasonal flair.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
28 Mar. 2025
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In addition to the technological advances required to put a human on Mars, however, is the very practical necessity of developing sustainable food sources in space.—
Margherita Bassi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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