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Dictionary.com

playing hard ball

ADJECTIVE
big-league
Synonyms
WEAK
big-deal big-time blue-chip chief critical crucial exceptional foremost four-star front-page great high-power important impressive influential large leading major prominent significant
ADJECTIVE
earnest
Synonyms
STRONGEST
sincere sober solemn somber thoughtful
STRONG
close constant firm grave intent stable steady
WEAK
determined fixed for real mean business meaningful no-fooling no-nonsense resolute resolved sedate staid weighty
Antonyms
STRONG
changeable inconstant irresolute loose unfixed unstable unsteady untrustworthy wavering weak wobbly
WEAK
flippant insincere thoughtless trivial unconcerned unenthusiastic unimportant unpassionate unpurposeful unserious unthoughtful
ADJECTIVE
heavyweight
Synonyms
STRONG
chief grave great heavy major professional
WEAK
big-time blue-chip critical crucial exceptional four-star front-page high-power major-league serious strictly business
Antonyms
STRONG
happy inconsequential insignificant little minor small trivial unimportant unskilled
ADJECTIVE
major-league
Synonyms
WEAK
big-league big-time blue-chip chief critical crucial exceptional four-star front-page grave great heavy high-power major notable pre-eminent serious strictly business
ADJECTIVE
purposeful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
calculated deliberate determined intense persistent resolute strong-willed
WEAK
be out for blood bent bound dead set on decided firm fixed intent mean business obstinate positive purposive settled single-minded stalwart staunch steadfast steady stubborn tenacious undeviating unfaltering unwavering
Antonyms
STRONGEST
irresolute weak
WEAK
aimless thoughtless undetermined unplanned wanton
ADJECTIVE
serious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dangerous deep difficult far-reaching grievous important major meaningful severe significant tough urgent
WEAK
arduous fateful fell formidable grave grim hard heavy laborious meaning business menacing momentous no joke no laughing matter of consequence operose out for blood pressing smoking sobering strenuous strictly business threatening ugly unamusing unhumorous worrying
Antonyms
STRONGEST
calm easy facile friendly insignificant little meaningless minor small trivial unimportant worthless
WEAK
flippant funny happy light unserious

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.

It’s time for Nancy Pelosi to stop playing hard ball.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2020

Nobody in Stoke had ever been sent to prison for failing to pay and now, in austerity Britain, was it really time to start playing hard ball?

From BBC • Nov. 9, 2012

The substitute fullback had been playing hard ball.

From Stanford Stories Tales of a Young University by Field, Charles K. (Charles Kellogg)