hardheaded

adjective

ˈhärd-ˈhe-dəd How to pronounce hardheaded (audio)
Definition of hardheadednext
1
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment a hardheaded politician who never hesitated to set aside principle in favor of expediency

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stubborn
sticking to an opinion, purpose, or course of action in spite of reason, arguments, or persuasion Granny remained hardheaded about keeping her house and not moving into a nursing home

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in pragmatic
willing to see things as they really are and deal with them sensibly a hardheaded minister who understands the difficulties teenagers face today

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of hardheaded In the complicated, thorny, offensive, manipulative, sometimes hilarious, sometimes uncomfortable video interview, which evokes the feeling of an uncle sitting down with his hardheaded nephew, Thug is reeling and full of so much anxiety that his legs are shaking. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 11 Sep. 2025 Flash mobs in the Loop are a real problem demanding hardheaded solutions. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025 British officials know this and sometimes despair that their country has not found a way to be more hardheaded. — Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025 As Iran’s willingness to engage with the United States over its nuclear program showed, it is driven by hardheaded calculations of national interest, not a desire to spread its Islamic Revolution abroad. — Vali Nasr, Foreign Affairs, 13 Feb. 2018 See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
  1. smart
  2. stubborn
  3. pragmatic
  4. shrewd
  5. adamant
  6. realistic
  7. astute
  8. practical
Adjective
  • Gameplay sees major defensive overhauls, smarter linebackers, and complex pre-snap options, creating a deeper, more challenging experience.
    — Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • If Vuskovic grows into a Premier League regular and leader at Brighton, that club-record fee will turn into a smart piece of business.
    — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of smart
Adjective
  • Volatile job numbers, stubborn inflation and changes to the Fed’s communications style are all stirring up uncertainty in markets and raising the stakes for upcoming economic data releases — including this week’s inflation report.
    — John Towfighi, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The softening job market may complicate the calculation for the Federal Reserve, which is also battling stubborn inflation.
    — Scott Horsley, NPR, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of stubborn
Adjective
  • If Sagittarius was rising at your time of birth, your money sector is ruled by taskmaster Saturn, and the pragmatic sign of Capricorn.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Solomon himself offered a pragmatic take on the market's trajectory.
    — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of pragmatic
Adjective
  • There’s pathos, and shrewd irony, underpinning his performance.
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Through the process, the girls not only become shrewd salespeople but gain confidence and sometimes even stand up to better the rights of their troops.
    — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of shrewd
Adjective
  • Hauser is adamant European companies have the innovation and skill to do so.
    — Arjun Kharpal,Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In the press release, the company was adamant that the transition wouldn’t lead to layoffs.
    — Maggie Harrison Dupré, Futurism, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of adamant
Adjective
  • So for younger consumers especially, a tote or backpack is a far more realistic first step into the brand than a signifant luggage investment piece.
    — Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Its most realistic hazards remain localized hydrothermal explosions, earthquakes, and the remote possibility of a smaller volcanic eruption.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of realistic
Adjective
  • The astute reader may have noticed that these soft skills, while presented as central to future leadership, as not exactly new.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But certain guessers are surprisingly astute in ways that are mesmerizing to watch and occasionally informative.
    — Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 28 July 2026
Definition of astute
Adjective
  • Women considering enlistment are generally more likely to ask practical questions about pregnancy policies, hygiene and whether barracks were coed, recruiters and women currently serving explained.
    — Steven Beynon, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Testing includes blood work, genetic screening, ultrasounds, a DEXA body-composition scan, cardiovascular assessments, and numerous other diagnostics, with every result explained immediately and paired with practical recommendations.
    — Ken Gawrych, Robb Report, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of practical

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Cite this Entry

“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 18 Aug. 2026.

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