hard-nosed

Or hard·nosed

[hahrd-nohzd]

adjective

Informal.

1. hardheaded or tough; unsentimentally practical.

   a hard-nosed labor leader.

   Synonyms: inflexible, stubborn, rigid, intractable, down-to-earth, realistic

hard-nosed

adjective

1. informal,  tough, shrewd, and practical

Word History and Origins

Origin of hard-nosed¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

"Most employers, even the hard-nosed ones, will listen and make adjustments when they understand that preventing burnout benefits everyone."

Read more on BBC

The once hard-nosed defence coach will almost certainly show that emotional side again, regardless of Saturday's outcome.

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But Lulu might protest too much: She’s clearly not so hard-nosed about love as she makes herself out to be.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

There was a celebrated Royal opening in 2004 where I remember one hard-nosed journalist marvelling at what had been achieved by this "dapper wee man in a kilt".

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He was also adept at drama, proven in the years he spent as a hard-nosed surgeon in the Fox medical drama “The Resident.”

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• hard-boiled 
• hardheaded 
• no-nonsense 
• tough-minded 
• uncompromising