noun
- a person who is tough, stubborn, or uncompromising in their dealings with others
Usage: informal; often used to describe someone in business or politics
adjective
- tough, practical, and unwilling to compromise; showing no sympathy or flexibility
Usage: informal
Examples
- The CEO is known as a hardnose who demands results from her team.
- He took a hardnose approach to negotiations, refusing to budge on key issues.
- The hardnose detective was feared by criminals throughout the city.
- She's a hardnose businesswoman who doesn't let emotions cloud her judgment.
- The coach's hardnose tactics helped the team win the championship.
- Don't expect sympathy from him—he's a hardnose when it comes to deadlines.