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

Barra has had plenty of opportunities to learn leadership the hard way. — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026

My generation learned the hard way what happens when government waits too long to establish reasonable rules on new, transformative technology. — Matt Post, Baltimore Sun, 1 Oct. 2026

That’s a lesson that a pair of teens who hired a Waymo, spent their ride getting drunk, and shot gel beads out the windows learned the hard way this summer. — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026

But even Cruise has learned the hard way that moviegoers have become pickier about what’s worth getting off the couch for. — Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026

Rhymes for the hard way

• aaa
• alleyway
• alumnae
• anime
• anyway
• arete
• attache
• axillae
• baa
• beaujolais
• bouvier
• breakaway