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 after learning the hard way that the window down creates a barking fit, Kristina kept the child lock on to stop the window from rolling down.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
This can be done the easy way, or it can be done the hard way.
—Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 29 Sep. 2025
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
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 8 Oct. 2025.
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