tough-minded

adjective

Definition of tough-mindednext
as in unsentimental

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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 tough-minded Jarred Vanderbilt is tough-minded, Lakers coach JJ Redick said. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 10 May 2026 Her tough-minded sister, Ena (Lisa Hagmeister), sees things with greater clarity. — Justin Chang, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026 Murphy, a gifted mechanic and a veteran of the Great War, immediately stands out to Clancy as a tough-minded, industrious guy. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2026 Kerr encourages players, coaches and others in the Warriors organization to be kind and tough-minded, compassionate and competitive, rigorous and creative, consistent and innovative. — John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tough-minded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tough-minded
  1. unsentimental
  2. bottom-line
  3. unromantic
  4. levelheaded
  5. hard-edged
  6. rational
  7. sensible
  8. logical
Adjective
  • The Problems Do Not Go Away McGee is refreshingly unsentimental about what building a business over a decade actually looks like.
    — Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Paradoxically, maintaining a consistent edge requires constant, unsentimental internal change—of processes, technology, and people.
    — Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
Definition of unsentimental
Adjective
  • That accounting change reported Social Security’s dedicated payroll tax revenue alongside all other federal income in a single bottom-line figure, making the overall deficit look smaller.
    — Thomas Hager, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Mitchell said public safety is a bottom-line issue for residents and a reason why people decide to even migrate to Charlotte in the first place.
    — Zaire Breedlove, Charlotte Observer, 19 June 2026
Definition of bottom-line
Adjective
  • Gorgeous cinematography and a very unromantic portrayal of the grueling life of a secret agent make this a solid watch.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 29 May 2026
  • This idea was supposed to be the kind of thing that could convince even the most unromantic skeptics that space exploration was not only spiritually fulfilling, but economically advantageous.
    — Elena Saavedra Buckley, Harpers Magazine, 21 Apr. 2026
Definition of unromantic
Adjective
  • For much of a six-year Tigers tenure filled with wild ups and downs, Hinch has mostly carried a consistent, levelheaded demeanor.
    — Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 19 May 2026
  • Arlo turns out to love Massive Attack and Elliott Smith, and to have a sadly levelheaded understanding of his mother’s suicide.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026
Definition of levelheaded
Adjective
  • The Good, the Bad and the Painterly As Bouancheau fashioned a Puss that was more lyrical, like a character that stepped out of a fairy tale book and less hard-edged, all the other characters followed suit.
    — Karen Idelson, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023
Definition of hard-edged
Adjective
  • The value equation was rational, transactional and easy to understand.
    — Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Perhaps there was a rational explanation for the man outside her apartment.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 June 2026
Definition of rational
Adjective
  • Trump taking the country to war with Iran, in part at the urging of his pal Bibi — without any sensible plan, debate, sanction from Congress or consideration as to how this might hurt Americans already struggling to make ends meet.
    — Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Google says the update will roll out over the coming days and weeks, but updating manually is sensible and easy.
    — Kate O'Flaherty, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of sensible
Adjective
  • The business solution provider, on the other hand, acts as the logical custodian of critical processes.
    — Vicente Pava, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Those are legitimate concerns, and yet the rebuttals are just as logical.
    — Josh Brown,Sean Russo, CNBC, 2 July 2026
Definition of logical

Browse Nearby Words

toughly
tough-minded
toughness
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Cite this Entry

“Tough-minded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tough-minded. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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