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.
But the night before the recording session, his notoriously hard-nosed manager, Colonel Tom Parker, called Parton and told her Elvis wouldn't record the song unless she handed over half of the lucrative publishing rights.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
Zhu also developed a reputation as a hard-nosed opponent of corruption, which he once described as one of China's most pressing problems.
From Barron's ● Aug. 12, 2026
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
Military training prepared him for the hard-nosed politics of running for city council in Jersey City, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026
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
