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 Bazball ideology has been exposed by Australia's hard-nosed, ruthless and relentless Test cricket.

From BBC • Dec. 20, 2025

Carney led the Liberal Party to a fourth-straight electoral win last April, on the promise of taking a hard-nosed approach in trade negotiations with Washington and delivering relief for the Canadian economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 24, 2025

Park’s hard-nosed approach to his themes, his ability to elicit strong performances and his deft touch with complex material have built his lofty reputation.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025

Will Bates was Gary Edwards’s teacher in algebra II, which seemed amazing given the fact that Edwards was a Carter Cowboy and Bates was a hard-nosed grader who made no bones about flunking kids.

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