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
One golden retriever owner learned that the hard way after sharing home camera footage of her Christmas tree toppled on the floor.
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Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Brighton have learned the hard way that a club with a reputation for smart player recruitment in markets across the world and a cosmopolitan squad presents challenges in attempting to grow a global audience.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025
Simonett learned this the hard way when her family applied for their third year in a row and was not accepted.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
That’s something Buffs fans have been learning the hard way.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Brighton have learned the hard way that a club with a reputation for smart player recruitment in markets across the world and a cosmopolitan squad presents challenges in attempting to grow a global audience.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025
Simonett learned this the hard way when her family applied for their third year in a row and was not accepted.
—Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
That’s something Buffs fans have been learning the hard way.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 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 10 Dec. 2025.
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