Hard-nosed — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈhärd-ˈnōzd/

Meaning & Definition of Hard-nosed

Hard-nosed (adjective)

  1. being tough, stubborn, or uncompromising
  2. hardheaded, tough-minded

Hard-nosed (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion

    "the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody"

    similar: 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, deaf to reason
    related: anal-retentive, obsessive, wayward, wrongheaded, determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching, firm, hard-line, hard-shell, iron, severe, stern, strict, hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid, bloody-minded (chiefly British), cantankerous, contrary, cussed, contumacious, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, uncooperative, ungovernable, unmanageable, unruly, defiant, insurgent, mutinous, indomitable, invincible, unconquerable, confirmed, inveterate, unregenerate, demanding, exacting
    opposite: acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding
    near: docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable, accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing, governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate, slavish, subservient

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Hard-nosed

The most common words with a similar meaning to Hard-nosed:

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, deaf to reason

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Hard-nosed

Words with the opposite meaning of Hard-nosed:

acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable, pliant, relenting, yielding

Related Words for Hard-nosed

anal-retentive, obsessive, wayward, wrongheaded, determined, hell-bent, inexorable, persistent, relentless, resolved, set, single-minded, steadfast, stouthearted, tenacious, unflinching, firm, hard-line, hard-shell, iron, severe, stern, strict, hidebound, narrow-minded, rigid, bloody-minded, cantankerous, contrary, cussed

Near Antonyms of Hard-nosed

docile, obedient, placable, submissive, tractable, accepting, persuadable, receptive, responsive, willing, governable, manageable, reasonable, temperate, slavish, subservient

Origin & Etymology of Hard-nosed

First known use: 1917

Frequently Asked Questions about Hard-nosed

What does "Hard-nosed" mean?

"Hard-nosed" means being tough, stubborn, or uncompromising. As an adjective, it is defined as: being tough, stubborn, or uncompromising.

What is another word for "Hard-nosed"?

Other words for "Hard-nosed" include adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded and headstrong. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Hard-nosed" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Hard-nosed"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Hard-nosed". Common alternatives include adamant, adamantine, bullheaded, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable and implacable.

What is the opposite of "Hard-nosed"?

Antonyms of "Hard-nosed" include acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, compliant, complying, flexible, pliable and pliant. Near antonyms include docile, obedient, placable and submissive.

How do you use "Hard-nosed" in a sentence?

Examples of "Hard-nosed" in a sentence: "the team's hard-nosed coach doesn't make exceptions for anybody".

Is "Hard-nosed" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Hard-nosed" is an adjective.

How do you pronounce "Hard-nosed"?

"Hard-nosed" is pronounced /ˈhärd-ˈnōzd/.

What is the origin of the word "Hard-nosed"?

First known use: 1917.