hardball Definition
- 1a forceful and uncompromising approach to a situation, especially in business or politics
- 2a variation of baseball played with a smaller ball and on a smaller field
Using hardball: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "hardball" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The company is playing hardball with the union over the new contract.
Example
The politician decided to play hardball with his opponents during the debate.
Example
We used to play hardball in the backyard when we were kids.
hardball Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for hardball
- pressure
- intimidation
- tough tactics
- uncompromising approach
Idioms Using hardball
play hardball
to act in a forceful and uncompromising way to achieve one's goals
Example
The boss decided to play hardball with the employees during the salary negotiations.
Summary: hardball in Brief
The term 'hardball' [hahrd-bawl] refers to a forceful and uncompromising approach to a situation, especially in business or politics. It can also refer to a variation of baseball played with a smaller ball and on a smaller field. An example of its use in a sentence is 'The company is playing hardball with the union over the new contract.' The idiom 'play hardball' means to act in a forceful and uncompromising way to achieve one's goals.