Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Baseball.
  • noun Informal The use of any means, however ruthless, to attain an objective.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun sports In baseball, a type of ball and baseball game, as opposed to softball.
  • adjective Tough or ruthless behavior, especially in combat, politics or business.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun baseball as distinguished from softball
  • noun a no-nonsense attitude in business or politics

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

hard +‎ ball

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Examples

  • There is another MSNBC show called hardball where this guy has a debate with what he calls the hardball hotshots, and as much as he would like to think all views are covered, everyone of the hotshots are republican and support Bush.

    Tomorrow-- The OpEdNews/Zogby Poll Asks Questions Progressives Want answers to 2006

  • There is another MSNBC show called hardball where this guy has a debate with what he calls the hardball hotshots, and as much as he would like to think all views are covered, everyone of the hotshots are republican and support Bush.

    Tomorrow-- The OpEdNews/Zogby Poll Asks Questions Progressives Want answers to 2006

  • Arguably the real source of all this hardball is increasing levels of partisan identification and ideological coherence.

    Matthew Yglesias » Constitutional Harball 2010

  • He recognizes, after all, that these are "exceptional circumstances," but notes that, in exceptional circumstances, "hardball is called for," "hardball" being the traditionally favored nomenclature for threats to invade and destroy nuclear-armed, allied nations.

    Barry Eisler: The Definition of Insanity Barry Eisler 2010

  • Arguably the real source of all this hardball is increasing levels of partisan identification and ideological coherence.

    Matthew Yglesias » Constitutional Harball 2010

  • He recognizes, after all, that these are "exceptional circumstances," but notes that, in exceptional circumstances, "hardball is called for," "hardball" being the traditionally favored nomenclature for threats to invade and destroy nuclear-armed, allied nations.

    Barry Eisler: The Definition of Insanity Barry Eisler 2010

  • There's a question as to whether politicians should play hardball and another question as to whether any particular instance of hardball is smart.

    Yet more on 'hardball' Ezra Klein 2010

  • He recognizes, after all, that these are "exceptional circumstances," but notes that, in exceptional circumstances, "hardball is called for," "hardball" being the traditionally favored nomenclature for threats to invade and destroy nuclear-armed, allied nations.

    Barry Eisler: The Definition of Insanity Barry Eisler 2010

  • From a former executive's point of view, suing your wife is the definition of hardball.

    FDIC Sues WaMu Executives, and Wives Jean Eaglesham 2011

  • He recognizes, after all, that these are "exceptional circumstances," but notes that, in exceptional circumstances, "hardball is called for," "hardball" being the traditionally favored nomenclature for threats to invade and destroy nuclear-armed, allied nations.

    Barry Eisler: The Definition of Insanity Barry Eisler 2010

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