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.

“In that countercultural heyday, it struck them as a hard-nosed business, establishment-style decision, which I suppose it was,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 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

The Gunners would, in all likelihood, end up as unpopular, unloved champions as their hard-nosed approach comes under increasingly unflattering scrutiny.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 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

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