played hardball

A form of play hardball — To use every means possible to achieve a goal, especially in disregarding the harm caused.

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Meanings

verb
  1. participlepastsimple past and past participle of play hardball
Cite this entry
APA

played hardball. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/played%20hardball

MLA

“played hardball.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/played%20hardball. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “played hardball,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/played%20hardball.

Source: played hardball on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.