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

That has prompted some law enforcement experts to worry that ICE is cutting corners in its hiring - a lesson police have learned the hard way over the years. — Meg Anderson, NPR, 23 July 2026

Alphabet and Tesla have found out the hard way, with investors sending the stocks lower despite solid results. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 July 2026

New York Knicks guard Jordan Clarkson learned that the hard way Saturday night after an evening at a Manhattan hotspot ended with an unexpected police escort. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

Travelers are learning the hard way about something called the car rental upsell scam. — Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 17 July 2026

Rhymes for the hard way

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