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hard-edged

American  
[hahrd-ejd] / ˈhɑrdˌɛdʒd /

adjective

  1. realistic and uncompromising.

    a hard-edged documentary.


Etymology

Origin of hard-edged

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Led by Busby’s machine-gun mandolin riffs and hair-raising tenor, the band had a hard-edged bluegrass-style sound that was a far cry from the homogenized, syrupy country-and-western slop heard around town.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 31, 2026

It doesn’t help that the vice presidents constantly runs down his wife in speeches, comments he tries to play off as jokes, but which are too hard-edged to sell as jovial.

From Salon Jul. 29, 2026

Sir Keir argued he has made "hard-edged" choices, including getting every department to make cuts to pay for defence.

From BBC Jun. 18, 2026

‘My Government Means to Kill Me,’ a hard-edged, cameo-filled novel of AIDS-riddled 1980s New York, has been ‘bubblng’ in Newson’s head for years.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 1, 2026

Volpe’s mother was “the centerpiece of the family. The hard-edged one and the ruler.”

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

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