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Hardball (Noun)

Baseball as distinguished from softball.

Nouns denoting acts or actions.

The high school team played hardball, while the middle school team played softball.
In hardball, the ball is harder and the pitching distance is greater than in softball.
The college team was looking for a hardball pitcher to complete their roster.
The hardball field was larger than the softball field, with deeper outfield fences.
After playing softball for years, she decided to try her hand at hardball and joined a local league.

A no-nonsense attitude in business or politics; "they play hardball in the Senate".

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.

The union's tough negotiating tactics forced management to play hardball to reach a new labor agreement.
She had a reputation for being ruthless in her business dealings and would always play hardball to get the upper hand.
In the world of high-stakes politics, candidates must be prepared to play hardball to survive the campaign trail.
After a series of concessions, the company finally realized they needed to start playing hardball with their suppliers.
His no-nonsense attitude and willingness to play hardball made him a respected and feared leader in the business world.