1
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
a hard-boiled Puritan schoolmaster who was as unyielding as New England granite
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in smart
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
made the hard-boiled business decision to downsize the company, thereby costing thousands of longtime employees their jobs
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hard-boiled
In a smaller pot of water over high heat, boil eggs, covered, until just hard-boiled, 7 minutes, then run under cold water.
—
Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2023
For lunch or dinner, top a salad with scrambled or hard-boiled eggs.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 1 Mar. 2023
This is outback noir — oblique, secretive and as hard-boiled as the ground is hard-baked — and Sen wears it well.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023
As Detective Munch, Mr. Belzer was brainy but hard-boiled, cynical but sensitive.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023
Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, 8 Mar. 2023
For lunch or dinner, top a salad with scrambled or hard-boiled eggs.
—Amanda MacMillan, Health, 1 Mar. 2023
This is outback noir — oblique, secretive and as hard-boiled as the ground is hard-baked — and Sen wears it well.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 23 Feb. 2023
As Detective Munch, Mr. Belzer was brainy but hard-boiled, cynical but sensitive.
—Alex Traub, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hard-boiled
Adjective
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The way to move up in your organization might require being ruthless.—
Roberta Matuson,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Russo, who has avoided serious injury and is set to return to play for Arsenal this month, is an out-and-out centre-forward, a grafter who uses her strength to take care of the ball and stitch play, but is also becoming a more ruthless penalty-box striker.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The style is a challenge: should their comedy be smart and savvy or broad and easy-going?—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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Generative artificial intelligence will lead to a generation of humans that will use this tool to become 120% smarter than the generation before them—this is the singularity of hope.—
Sam Sammane,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Inspired by Lauren’s late mother, Adele, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s at the age of 55, their family knows that this merciless disease is no laughing matter.—
Jeff Conway,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
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Lottie proposes that Natalie be stripped of her title and that the merciless and vicious Shauna should lead them instead.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Flash mobs in the Loop are a real problem demanding hardheaded solutions.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2025
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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
Adjective
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Only the most astute short-term traders can do well in wild markets; ordinary investors need to keep calm and ignore all the headlines and price gyrations.—
Sal Gilbertie,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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At the same time, Scott’s act of mass ventriloquism—patient, playful, physically astute and ultimately brave—clarifies something at the heart of Chekhov’s play.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Now, onto some savvy spring shopping curated by WWD editors.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
10 Apr. 2025
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Our team of savvy editors independently handpicks all recommendations.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The shrewd 2025 gnome hunter hit the Augusta grounds long before The Masters’ opening round on Thursday.—
Larry Holder,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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The moment was also a memorable part of TCU’s dramatic reversal in fortunes, catalyzed by donor investment, a shrewd hiring decision and an all-in approach to the transfer portal.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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As part of that effort, Democrats are hoping to exploit the sharp GOP divisions over the value of Medicaid and how deeply Republicans should cut its funding.—
Mike Lillis,
The Hill,
14 Apr. 2025
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Such a sharp rise in government bond yields over a period of weeks is relatively unusual.—
Simon Moore,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hard-boiled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hard-boiled. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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