hard-nose
Uncompromising tough person
Hard-nose is an informal term for a person who is tough, uncompromising, and unwilling to yield to pressure or sentiment.
The word emphasizes stubbornness and practicality over flexibility or empathy.
It functions as a back-formation from the more common adjective hard-nosed, which describes the same qualities: Our new manager is a real hard-nose who won't tolerate excuses.
Demanding great care
- rigorousExtremely thorough and careful
- strictRigorous, without flexibility
- stringentSeverely exact and demanding
- meticulousShowing extreme attention to detail
perfectionist · unforgiving · critical · stern · severe · harsh · tough · unsparing
Solid or resolute
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
- resoluteFixed in purpose
unwavering · iron-willed · inexorable · implacable · unmovable · unswerving · principled · hardline
Firmly refusing to yield
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- mulishStubbornly refusing to yield
willful · headstrong · recalcitrant · uncooperative · contrary · stiff-necked · inflexible · rigid
True to life
- no-nonsenseSerious and efficient
- practicalSuited for real use
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
clear-eyed · hardheaded · levelheaded · sober · matter-of-fact · unsentimental · unromantic · unemotional
Stubbornly determined to continue
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- doggedStubbornly persevering
- perseveringMaintaining effort despite difficulty
- grittyCoarse or courageous
driven · relentless · single-minded · focused · committed · dedicated · indomitable · unflagging
exacting
Demanding great care
- rigorousExtremely thorough and careful
- strictRigorous, without flexibility
- stringentSeverely exact and demanding
meticulous · perfectionist · unforgiving · critical · stern · severe · harsh · tough · unsparing · relentless
firm
Solid or resolute
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- steadfastFirmly loyal, unshakeable
resolute · unwavering · iron-willed · inexorable · implacable · unmovable · unswerving · principled · hardline · take-it-or-leave-it
obstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
mulish · willful · headstrong · recalcitrant · uncooperative · contrary · stiff-necked · inflexible · rigid · unbending
realistic
True to life
- no-nonsenseSerious and efficient
- practicalSuited for real use
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
shrewd · clear-eyed · hardheaded · levelheaded · sober · matter-of-fact · unsentimental · unromantic · unemotional · businesslike
tenacious
Stubbornly determined to continue
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- doggedStubbornly persevering
- perseveringMaintaining effort despite difficulty
gritty · driven · relentless · single-minded · focused · committed · dedicated · indomitable · unflagging · tireless
hard-nosepushover
Easily defeated opponent
softie · soft touch · marshmallow · easygoing · lenient
hard-nosesofthearted
Readily feeling sympathy
tenderhearted · soft-hearted · compassionate · sentimental · bleeding heart
hard, nose, harder, hardest, hardly, hardness, harden, hardened, hardening