hardheaded

or hard-head·ed

[hahrd-hed-id]

See more synonyms for hardheaded on Thesaurus.com

adjective

not easily moved or deceived; practical; shrewd.
obstinate; stubborn; willful.

Origin of hardheaded

First recorded in 1575–85

Related formshard·head·ed·ly, adverbhard·head·ed·ness, noun

Synonyms

See more synonyms for hardheaded on Thesaurus.com

1. astute, realistic, pragmatic, cool, down-to-earth.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hard-headed

Contemporary Examples

In the context of 2004, that kind of talk passed for hard-headed thinking.
Michael Scheuer’s Meltdown
David Frum
January 3, 2014
A look at the documentary and why we all need to stop being so hard-headed about head injuries.
Steve James and Christopher Nowinski Talk the New Doc ‘Head Games’
Kevin Fallon
September 22, 2012
All of which, if true, suggests that she's not the most hard-headed commentator on Middle Eastern affairs.
Jewish Sharptonism, Part 17
Peter Beinart
September 20, 2012
Before Moore lost the plot and went into rehab, we thought of her as a hard-headed actress who had also evolved into a dealmaker.
Demi Moore’s Poignant Fall
Tracy Quan
February 15, 2012
When Republicans defend the war in Afghanistan, they generally do so in hard-headed security terms.
The GOP's Revolt Against Bush
Peter Beinart
August 9, 2010

Historical Examples

He was good-natured, plucky in a hard-headed British way, and gentlemanly.
The Slave Of The Lamp
Henry Seton Merriman
Of course you would, being a sensible, hard-headed American workingman.
The Common Sense of Socialism
John Spargo
He was a sailor, and as hard-headed and practical a man as it has ever been my lot to meet.
Seen and Unseen
E. Katharine Bates
Haven't you any hard-headed topers who are famous in the neighborhood?
The Belovd Vagabond
William J. Locke
You yourself have called me too hard-headed, too material for an artist.
The Master Mummer
E. Phillips Oppenheim

British Dictionary definitions for hard-headed

hard-headed

adjective

tough, realistic, or shrewd; not moved by sentiment
mainly US and Canadian stubborn; obstinate

Derived Formshard-headedly, adverbhard-headedness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hard-headed

adj.

also hardheaded, 1580s, "stubborn," from hardhead "dull person" (1510s), from hard + head (n.). Meaning "practical" is attested from 1779.

hardheaded

or hard-head·ed

Origin of .css-1fxfie5{font-size:22px;}@media (max-width:768px){.css-1fxfie5{font-size:18px;margin:0 10px 10px 0;word-break:break-all;word-wrap:break-word;-webkit-hyphens:auto;-moz-hyphens:auto;-ms-hyphens:auto;hyphens:auto;line-height:22px;}}hardheaded

Synonyms

Examples from the Web for hard-headed

Contemporary Examples

In the context of 2004, that kind of talk passed for hard-headed thinking.

A look at the documentary and why we all need to stop being so hard-headed about head injuries.

All of which, if true, suggests that she's not the most hard-headed commentator on Middle Eastern affairs.

Before Moore lost the plot and went into rehab, we thought of her as a hard-headed actress who had also evolved into a dealmaker.

When Republicans defend the war in Afghanistan, they generally do so in hard-headed security terms.

Historical Examples

He was good-natured, plucky in a hard-headed British way, and gentlemanly.

Of course you would, being a sensible, hard-headed American workingman.

He was a sailor, and as hard-headed and practical a man as it has ever been my lot to meet.

Haven't you any hard-headed topers who are famous in the neighborhood?

You yourself have called me too hard-headed, too material for an artist.

hard-headed

Word Origin and History for hard-headed

adj.

Origin of hardheaded