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
But as some have learned the hard way, that tendency of random things to appear to form patterns means that the other peak might be just noise.
—
Faye Flam, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
The jockey did it the hard way by literally surging back from last place.
—Gary B. Graves, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Simone Biles is learning the hard way that going glam for a red carpet comes at a price.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Fox News Host Jesse Waters found out the hard way after a very awkward interaction with Queen Camilla during the state banquet held in honor of the King and Queen during their visit to the United States.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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Faye Flam, Scientific American, 7 May 2026
The jockey did it the hard way by literally surging back from last place.
—Gary B. Graves, Chicago Tribune, 3 May 2026
Simone Biles is learning the hard way that going glam for a red carpet comes at a price.
—Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026
Fox News Host Jesse Waters found out the hard way after a very awkward interaction with Queen Camilla during the state banquet held in honor of the King and Queen during their visit to the United States.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 30 Apr. 2026
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 11 May. 2026.
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