noun
hardball
noun
1
Baseball, as distinguished from softball — or, more commonly, tough, uncompromising tactics.
"The negotiators decided to play hardball over the contract terms."
How to Use Hardball
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishRuthless or aggressive tactics, especially in business, politics, or negotiation.
Common pairings
play hardball
Word Forms
more hardball comparative, hardballed past tense, hardballs plural, hardballs singular, most hardball superlative
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The negotiators decided to play _____ over the contract terms.
Etymology
From hard plus ball, originally distinguishing regular baseball from the softer-ball game of softball.