the hard way
noun
: in a way that involves difficult or painful experiences
He found out the hard way that crime doesn't pay.
She insisted on doing things the hard way.
Examples of the hard way in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And one contestant in the Season 49 premiere learned that the hard way.
—
Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Many on the left are now learning this the hard way, but many on the right have long known it and should speak up more forcefully.
—Michael Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
But science knows better, as do those of us who learned this lesson the hard way.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
But Malone also found out the hard way during the 2025 Western Conference finals how big a megaphone the Mouse Network gives you nationally.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 25 Sep. 2025
Many on the left are now learning this the hard way, but many on the right have long known it and should speak up more forcefully.
—Michael Bloomberg, Twin Cities, 24 Sep. 2025
But science knows better, as do those of us who learned this lesson the hard way.
—Essence, 24 Sep. 2025
But Malone also found out the hard way during the 2025 Western Conference finals how big a megaphone the Mouse Network gives you nationally.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
Cite this Entry
“The hard way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20hard%20way. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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