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
Some companies are learning the hard way that replacing humans outright can backfire.
—
Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
In a new ad for Carnival Cruise Line, Nick Offerman puts his phone on silent the hard way.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
In 2022, the GOP learned the hard way that there are limits to the potency of the midterm curse that has afflicted the majority party in almost every midterm election for more than a century.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 18 Nov. 2025
Ramamurti said the Biden administration learned the hard way that voters are not appeased by a president saying his policies would ultimately cause their incomes to rise.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025
In a new ad for Carnival Cruise Line, Nick Offerman puts his phone on silent the hard way.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
In 2022, the GOP learned the hard way that there are limits to the potency of the midterm curse that has afflicted the majority party in almost every midterm election for more than a century.
—Chris Stirewalt, The Hill, 18 Nov. 2025
Ramamurti said the Biden administration learned the hard way that voters are not appeased by a president saying his policies would ultimately cause their incomes to rise.
—Josh Boak, Fortune, 15 Nov. 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 Nov. 2025.
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