ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: hard (I) + -bitten having (such) a bite (from bitten, past participle of bite )
1. : having a hard bite : inclined to bite hard
so hard-bitten an animal that all the torture you can use will not make him leave his hold — Martin Hunter
2.
a. : seasoned or steeled in battle : tough in fighting
hard-bitten tribesmen, their … faces flecked with the blood of the fighting — T.E.Lawrence
the rangers … were a hard-bitten lot, and they went after outlaws in a businesslike way — W.M.Raine
b.
(1) : seasoned or steeled in struggle or experience of any kind : having the qualities appropriate to a veteran
this genial but hard-bitten career diplomat — Newsweek
(2) : confirmed , inveterate
hard-bitten amateur high-fidelity operators — R.S.Lanier
hard-bitten bachelors complained that they were too shy to approach women — Atlantic
3.
a.
(1) : marked by severity or austerity of character : of tough moral fiber : unyielding , indomitable , rugged
a hard-biten, granite-faced, Scotch-Irish Presbyterian — Newsweek
his hard-bitten New England independence — Edwin Clark
one of those hard-bitten ruggedly individualistic men — Pamela Taylor
(2) : full of difficulties or hardships : harsh
the life of the farmer was all too often a lonely hard-bitten existence — American Guide Series: Ind.
b. : lacking polish or refinement : rough or coarse in manner or appearance : tough , hard-boiled
patronized by roistering, hard-bitten seafarers — American Guide Series: Florida
c. : lacking sensitivity or compassion : callous , ruthless , hard
the typical story of the hard-bitten man who clawed his way to the top — V.P.Hass
d. : free of sentimentality or illusions : not credulous or naïve : tough-minded , realistic , practical
this hard-bitten gentleman has an aesthetic and romantic side — Stanley Walker
a somewhat more hard-bitten scholarly segment … squared off for wordy battles with the faithful — M.W.Fishwick
realistic, hard-bitten, and unrhetorical — Saturday Review