tough-minded
tough-minded — adjective
1. able to make difficult decisions and deal with hard situations by thinking clear
able to make difficult decisions and deal with hard situations by thinking clearly and practically, without letting feelings get in the way
Marta is a tough-minded manager who makes unpopular decisions when the team needs them.
collocation: tough-minded manager / tough-minded leader
Padma brought a tough-minded perspective to the board meeting that impressed the investors.
collocation: tough-minded perspective
Nkechi remained tough-minded during the negotiations and refused to accept a bad deal.
The company needs a tough-minded leader to guide it through the financial crisis.
James is tough-minded enough to hear criticism without taking it personally.
- hard-headed
similar meaning but often carries a negative connotation of being stubbornly unwilling to listen to others
- unsentimental
focuses on the absence of emotion, but does not convey the determination aspect as strongly
- pragmatic
emphasizes practical results, but does not specifically relate to emotional detachment or determination
- realistic
broader term; can describe facing facts without necessarily implying the determination to act on them
- sentimental
lets emotions and feelings guide decisions rather than practical reasoning
- tender-minded
coined by philosopher William James as the direct opposite; describes someone who is idealistic and guided by feelings
文法句型
tough-minded + noun
be + tough-minded
用法筆記
Commonly used in work and leadership contexts to describe a person's approach to decision-making or problem-solving. The focus is on the combination of practical realism and emotional control, not on being harsh or aggressive.