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
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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
The messy middle refers to the difficult decisions that need to be made, guided by science and hardheaded economics.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
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
The messy middle refers to the difficult decisions that need to be made, guided by science and hardheaded economics.
—Nick Rockel, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hardheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hardheaded
Adjective
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August 23 – September 22 A smart adjustment today creates more momentum than effort.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This white chocolate bar is creamy and ultra-sweet, and the great minds at TJ’s were smart to distract from the one-note flavor with crunchy little cookie crumbles.—
Alex Beggs,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Jared Speight is a stubborn titan of Long Island abstraction when star writer Roxy Margaux first becomes infatuated with his bravado.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
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For concrete or tile, a mild cleaner helps remove the stubborn pollen film that builds up over spring months.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Flick was aware of what lay in store for his team and asked them to play a more pragmatic game than usual.—
Laia Cervelló Herrero,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Most opposition leaders favor either pragmatic engagement with the West and Russia or a full return to Russia.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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If Ty Simpson develops into a top NFL quarterback who leads the Rams to a Super Bowl title, the club will look back at the 2026 draft as one of the best and shrewdest in its history.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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The Braves enjoyed a renaissance under Snitker’s leadership, ushering in a line of acclaimed prospects and shrewd acquisitions that created the second-best era of sustained success in Atlanta history.—
Gabriel Burns,
AJC.com,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Warsh would take the chairmanship at a complicated time, given that a spike in gas prices could keep the central bank from lowering interest rates — a move that Trump has been adamant on.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
24 Apr. 2026
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Trump has been adamant that Iran give up its nuclear power ambitions and reopen the Strait of Hormuz in order for the war to end.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Keep your responses measured and your commitments realistic so nothing escalates unnecessarily.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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Policymakers should also require manufacturers to disclose additives and realistic leaching data for food-contact materials, cookware, bottled water, and children’s products.—
Justin Zorn,
STAT,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Michelle is floating through life until a surprising connection with a high schooler challenges her friendship with her overbearing best friend, in this bitingly astute and exceptionally hilarious satire.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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This was, of course, an astute political strategy.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Moon steadies Jupiter’s influence, helping practical decisions create emotional ease.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
27 Apr. 2026
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In these systems, the active materials tend to degrade and leak through the membrane, a process that rapidly wears out the battery and limits its practical lifespan.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hardheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hardheaded. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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