Tough-minded

adj.resilient, thoughtfulprofessional

What it means

Practical, determined, and willing to face hard facts.

Reach for it when praising judgment that combines realism with the resolve to make difficult choices

The tough-minded director ended the popular program after its safety failures continued.

playful
no-nonsense
when direct practicality suits informal praise
not when No-nonsense can celebrate impatience rather than careful tough-minded judgment.
everyday
hardheaded
when practical skepticism suits a blunt tone
not when Hardheaded can imply stubbornness or lack of imagination.
warm
levelheaded
when calm judgment under pressure matters
not when Levelheaded lacks the willingness to confront severe choices.
professional
pragmatic
when workable results take priority over theory
not when Pragmatic can suggest compromised principles, while tough-minded can defend them firmly.
professional
realistic
when accurate acceptance of conditions is central
not when Realistic does not imply the resolve to act on an unwelcome conclusion.
formal
resolute
when unwavering commitment deserves emphasis
not when Resolute can hold a mistaken position and says nothing about factual realism.
formal
unsentimental
when emotion is not allowed to distort judgment
not when Unsentimental can sound cold and dismiss humane considerations.
literary
clear-eyed
when honest awareness of risk and tradeoffs is central
not when Clear-eyed describes perception more than decision or endurance.

tough-minded approach
A tough-minded approach still counts the human cost of each option.
tough-minded leader
The tough-minded leader published the failure before announcing the recovery plan.
tough-minded realism
Tough-minded realism rejected both panic and unsupported reassurance.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.