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Synonyms

no-nonsense

American  
[noh-non-sens, -suhns] / ˈnoʊˈnɒn sɛns, -səns /

adjective

  1. not tolerating anything frivolous or trifling; firm and businesslike.

    a no-nonsense approach to money matters; a no-nonsense teacher with well-behaved classes.
    Synonyms:
    purposeful, resolute, diligent, earnest

  2. economical or utilitarian; practical.

    a no-nonsense car that gets excellent gas mileage.

  3. plain and simple; not fancy, complicated, or elegant.

    no-nonsense recipes for easy preparation.
no-nonsense British  
/ ˌnəʊˈnɒnsəns /

adjective

  1. sensible, practical, straightforward; without nonsense of any kind

    a businesslike no-nonsense approach

    a severe no-nonsense look
"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

Etymology

Origin of no-nonsense

First recorded in 1925–30

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.

He was a no-nonsense taskmaster who had won an MLS Cup and two U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

Alvin Hellerstein, the US judge overseeing the case against deposed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, is a no-nonsense 92-year-old with a long list of high-profile cases on his CV.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

But the potential upside was that her no-nonsense approach would prove a welcome contrast, particularly as the party had announced that the focus of her address would be affordability.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026

The no-nonsense police statement is a bluntly worded news earthquake: "The man remains in police custody at this time."

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

He was a no-nonsense fellow and had far less of a bedside manner than the cordial young physician of the night before.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.