hardnoses
Won't budge people
Hardnoses is the plural of hardnose, a person who is tough, uncompromising, and unsentimental in their approach.
The term often describes negotiators, coaches, or managers who refuse to yield: The union sent their hardnoses to the bargaining table.
It can be admiring or critical depending on context.
Rigorous, without flexibility
- exactingDemanding great care
- rigorousExtremely thorough and careful
- stringentSeverely exact and demanding
- perfectionistOne demanding flawlessness
unforgiving · relentless · merciless · draconian · austere · taskmaster · disciplinarian · stickler
Firmly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
- bullheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
mulish · recalcitrant · obdurate · immovable · unbending · uncooperative · willful · pertinacious
True to life
- practicalSuited for real use
- straightforwardClear and uncomplicated
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
- matter-of-factUnemotional and practical
sensible · no-nonsense · level-headed · clear-eyed · businesslike · calculating · shrewd · hard-boiled
Able to recover quickly
- ruggedTough and uneven
- steelyHard and unwavering
- grittyCoarse or courageous
- thick-skinnedResistant to criticism
battle-hardened · unflinching · unflappable · hard-bitten · grizzled · seasoned · veteran · survivor
Conveying threat or danger
- fearsomeCausing intense alarm
- sternStrict or ship's aft
- grimHarsh and foreboding
- formidableInspiring fear or respect
domineering · aggressive · forceful · imposing · commanding · overbearing · bulldozer · steamroller
strict
Rigorous, without flexibility
- exactingDemanding great care
- rigorousExtremely thorough and careful
- stringentSeverely exact and demanding
perfectionist · unforgiving · relentless · merciless · draconian · austere · taskmaster · disciplinarian · stickler · nitpicker
obstinate
Firmly refusing to yield
- intransigentRefusing to compromise
- headstrongStubbornly self-willed
- pigheadedStubbornly refusing to yield
bullheaded · mulish · recalcitrant · obdurate · immovable · unbending · uncooperative · willful · pertinacious · dogged
realistic
True to life
- practicalSuited for real use
- straightforwardClear and uncomplicated
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
matter-of-fact · sensible · no-nonsense · level-headed · clear-eyed · businesslike · calculating · shrewd · hard-boiled · cynical
resilient
Able to recover quickly
thick-skinned · battle-hardened · unflinching · unflappable · hard-bitten · grizzled · seasoned · veteran · survivor · stoic
menacing
Conveying threat or danger
formidable · domineering · aggressive · forceful · imposing · commanding · overbearing · bulldozer · steamroller · bruiser
hardnosespushovers
Those easily persuaded
softies · doormats · weaklings · patsies · easy marks
hardnosessofties
Overly sentimental people
sentimentalists · bleeding hearts · romantics · soft touches · marshmallows