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.

Known as an hard-nosed and aggressive operator, Williamson worked for former governors Jerry Brown and Gray Davis and mentored other women in politics.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

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 new chief executive is promising hard-nosed business leadership and has appointed Tiger Woods to chair their Future Competitions Committee.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

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

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