hard-nosed

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.

Good things have happened when people decided not to give up entirely and held on to that kind of hard-nosed faith.

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

The newly appointed CEO, according to people who have worked with him, possesses the charisma and confidence of Iger and the hard-nosed, profit-oriented finance focus of Bob Chapek, who was CEO from 2020 to 2022.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 4, 2026

For a decade, Kelce was a regional sports figure, revered in the Midwest as a hard-nosed, consistent producer on the field.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 26, 2025

Then in 1990 he got attention for his turn as the hard-nosed secret agent handling Anne Parillaud's female assassin Nikita, in Besson's hit film of the same name.

From Barron's • Oct. 31, 2025

But he had been one hell of a runner, tough as leather, hard-nosed, and people around town still remembered him for that as if it had happened yesterday.

From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger