the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English
adj. Having sound judgment; sagacious; shrewd; practical and pragmatic.
The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
Shrewd; intelligent or clearheaded and firm; not easily deceived or humbugged: as, a hard-headed politician.
WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
adj. guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory
adj. unreasonably rigid in the face of argument or entreaty or attack
Word Usage
"ZAKARIA: It's a difficult question because McCain used to be more of a kind of hardheaded, pragmatic Republican, the type of Henry Kissinger or Brent Scowcroft."