as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion
the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard-nosed
For Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a hard-nosed pragmatism is at play.
—
John Liu, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
While seemingly every other player struggled to hit shots or got in foul trouble, the 5-foot-7 Booher played an integral role, running the offense, making two key shots and playing hard-nosed defense in the Corsairs’ 41-37 loss to Rolling Meadows.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
On Sunday it was revealed that hard-nosed winger Marcus Foligno will miss time with a lower body injury.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
The recent moves by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley indicate that Club Mike, the resort-like atmosphere the Dolphins basked in for the previous four seasons, is truly coming to an end and this franchise is about to return to serious, hard-nosed football.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
John Liu, CNN Money, 4 Mar. 2026
While seemingly every other player struggled to hit shots or got in foul trouble, the 5-foot-7 Booher played an integral role, running the offense, making two key shots and playing hard-nosed defense in the Corsairs’ 41-37 loss to Rolling Meadows.
—Bobby Narang, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
On Sunday it was revealed that hard-nosed winger Marcus Foligno will miss time with a lower body injury.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026
The recent moves by general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley indicate that Club Mike, the resort-like atmosphere the Dolphins basked in for the previous four seasons, is truly coming to an end and this franchise is about to return to serious, hard-nosed football.
—Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-nosed
Adjective
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Across the Rockies and beyond, many of our favorite mountains were haunted by unseasonably warm spikes and stubborn weather patterns that shut out snow for weeks on end.—
Kristen Geil,
Outside,
31 Mar. 2026
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For stubborn blockages, a plumber’s snake can help break things loose.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Conservative Republicans were adamant, however, against establishing a precedent that allows Congress during the yearly appropriations process to fund some agencies within Homeland Security, but not others.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
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However, even as the team trudges to a play-in spot rather than a top seed, Green was adamant that the Warriors’ standard of competitiveness cannot change.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Their steadfast belief in this very personal film and commitment to getting it on marquees means so much to me.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
30 Mar. 2026
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Fielder has been the sole democratic socialist on the board and a steadfast advocate for progressive causes, often voting against Lurie’s legislative agenda and the board’s moderate majority bloc.—
Alyce McFadden,
San Francisco Chronicle,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The hardened look of a world-weary MI6 agent.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
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So essentially, a beverage cooler is just a polystyrene foam container with a hardened plastic coating.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hard-nosed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-nosed. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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