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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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
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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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Examples of hardheaded in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
But behind the display of friendship was a backdrop of hardheaded geopolitics.
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Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2023
Politicians like John Adams and Theodore Roosevelt, and hardheaded businessmen like John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan, supported Zionist aspirations as well.
—Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022
What does matter is to stop being so hardheaded and close-minded.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2022
Haidt believes that conditions are too dire to take the hardheaded, no-reasonable-doubt view.
—The New Yorker, 3 June 2022
See all Example Sentences for hardheaded 
Anton Troianovski, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2023
Politicians like John Adams and Theodore Roosevelt, and hardheaded businessmen like John D. Rockefeller and J.P. Morgan, supported Zionist aspirations as well.
—Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, 5 Sep. 2022
What does matter is to stop being so hardheaded and close-minded.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2022
Haidt believes that conditions are too dire to take the hardheaded, no-reasonable-doubt view.
—The New Yorker, 3 June 2022
See all Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
Adjective
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That was a smart play, because his impact was necessary, not only in creating zone-coverage looks in the pass game, but also as a running back and pass catcher.Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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The company continues to focus on its strategy of providing energy and smart home solutions, supported by its recent acquisition of Vivint Smart Home (NRG).Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
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McCaffrey hadn’t played since the Super Bowl in Las Vegas while battling a stubborn case of Achilles tendinitis.Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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You might be tempted to whip out your strongest acne-fighting products to destroy your stubborn zit.Jenna Ryu, SELF, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Commercial aviation CVCs have a similar profile, with a higher emphasis on SAF, which reflects a pragmatic response to the pressure investors have put on airlines for sustainable flying.Dean Donovan, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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Small wonder the fantasy of rising above all of that through marrying Ivan — a unicorn customer who’s young, handsome, wealthy, gregarious, and spontaneous — would beckon to the otherwise pragmatic Ani.Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Opening with Emilia Pérez was also a shrewd way to reintroduce TAFFF, running through Nov. 3 and now in its 28th edition, to the industry and to Los Angeles moviegoers.Shannon L. Bowen, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2024
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Since putting her own money in John Wick, Longoria has become a shrewd businesswoman, investing in sports teams and starting her own production company, Hyphenate Media Group.Eric Andersson, People.com, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Courtney is adamant that their mom (Vernee Watson) needs cataract surgery, but as the more successful sister, Gaby’s words carry more weight.Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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Paul Heyman, one of the key figures in The Bloodline saga, has been adamant that WWE remains in the early stages of a storyline that started way back in 2020.Blake Oestriecher, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Surprisingly, the debut artist was able to negotiate the right to own her own masters—a rare, but financially astute move for a first-time signee.Jenzia Burgos, StyleCaster, 29 Oct. 2024
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Unlike her wryly astute essays, the playwright scarcely reckons with the thorny nuances of mourning, and instead settles for a rather pat depiction of grief.Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Set a realistic budget for the holidays, including travel.Betty Lin-Fisher, USA TODAY, 24 Oct. 2024
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In each approach, a realistic strategic response will require more than tariffs and bluster.Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, TIME, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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This portable charger is a great practical gift that really anyone could use.Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024
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From a practical perspective, Kantz notes that homeowners who live in warm climates year-round might consider going for lighter colors to avoid heat retention that could make the interior of a home warmer and result in higher cooling costs.Elizabeth Stamp, Architectural Digest, 5 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near hardheaded
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.
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