Synonyms
- adamant
- adamantine
- bullheaded
- dogged
- hard
- hardened
- hardheaded
- headstrong
- immovable
- implacable
- inconvincible
- inflexible
- intransigent
- mulish
- obdurate
- obstinate
- opinionated
- ossified
- pat
- pertinacious
- perverse
- pigheaded
- self-opinionated
- self-willed
- stiff-necked
- stubborn
- unbending
- uncompromising
- unrelenting
- unyielding
- willful
- wilful
Examples of hard-nosed in a Sentence
the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody
Recent Examples on the Web
In the two games since then, dominant wins in Toronto and Montreal, Hynes has seen some results from the receipt of his message, most notably in the hard-nosed play of bottom six forwards.
—
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Listen to this article MOBILE, Ala. – Damien Martinez, the physical, hard-nosed running back from the University of Miami, and RJ Harvey, the elusive, shifty running back from UCF, both had a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl and might have moved up a bit on draft boards.
—Chris Perkins, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
In 21 of Drysdale’s 38 games this season, he’s started alongside the hard-nosed shot-blocking veteran.
—Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Jackson and Emanuel may be worlds apart politically, but these hard-nosed operators relish a fight.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard-nosed 
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.
Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 31 Jan. 2025
Listen to this article MOBILE, Ala. – Damien Martinez, the physical, hard-nosed running back from the University of Miami, and RJ Harvey, the elusive, shifty running back from UCF, both had a good week of practice at the Senior Bowl and might have moved up a bit on draft boards.
—Chris Perkins, Orlando Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2025
In 21 of Drysdale’s 38 games this season, he’s started alongside the hard-nosed shot-blocking veteran.
—Kevin Kurz, The Athletic, 25 Jan. 2025
Jackson and Emanuel may be worlds apart politically, but these hard-nosed operators relish a fight.
—Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for hard-nosed
Dictionary Entries Near hard-nosed
Cite this Entry
“Hard-nosed.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hard-nosed. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share