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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Body scale: on sale for $79.95 Original price: $99.95 This smart scale measures weight, BMI, body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone mass, and water percentage.—
Nora Colomer,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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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
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Happy Birthday for Saturday, March 29, 2025: You are opinionated and stubborn.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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However, Venus conjunct Saturn on April 7 brings a more pragmatic tone to the mix, asking you to consider long-term commitments and the stability of your romantic connections.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Many of the urgent phases in this journey are already being undertaken – the publication of the pragmatic EU White Paper on defence, the EU’s new Eur 800bn loan facility for defence spending and critically Germany’s decision to loosen the debt brake provision on defence spending.—
Mike O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Tough, shrewd, and bursting with Machiavellian ambition, Lucky is also fiercely loyal to Baba and his bumbling offspring.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
6 Mar. 2025
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His three-year, $45.75 million deal signed in the spring of 2023 is one of Paton and Payton’s shrewdest moves and is due to be updated as early as this spring.—
Parker Gabriel,
The Denver Post,
3 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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But, like any astute power ranking, there are certain tells about which nominees have an advantage.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
3 Apr. 2025
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There’s a chance an astute hiker could probably see Prospect Park from the top of Cowles Mountain looking northeast.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But those who have followed this Leicester side all season will know the prospect of this particular team going on an incredible run in the final stretch of the season, combined with Wolverhampton Wanderers losing all of their fixtures, just isn’t realistic.—
Rob Tanner,
New York Times,
3 Apr. 2025
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Two of the youths involved willingly relinquished realistic paintball guns to officers but a third resisted and was forcibly placed under arrest, police said.—
Dennis Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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However, for shorter flights or limited bag space, compact, compressible options — such as inflatable neck pillows, silk sleep masks, or small travel blankets — are more practical.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Mar. 2025
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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
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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