Operating
Operating adjective - Being in effective operation.
Playing hardball and operating are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Playing hardball" instead an adjective "Operating".
Playing hardball
Operating and playing hardball are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Operating" instead an adjective phrase "Playing hardball".
Cite this Source
Playing hardball and Operating. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/operating/playing_hardball
Operating & Playing hardball. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/operating/playing_hardball>.
Playing hardball or Operating. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/operating/playing_hardball.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "operating" and "playing hardball" have occurred on timeline