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
To be truly great, a team needs both, but only one is essential, which coaches tend to learn the hard way.
—
CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Certainly, as too many prizefighters like the now-48-year-old and occasional exhibition-bout-fighting Floyd Mayweather have learned the hard way, not paying attention to the money and the purse has consequences above and beyond the fine print in or out of your prime.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Ellie Goulding was initiated into pop stardom the hard way.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Some young workers may already be learning that lesson the hard way.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Certainly, as too many prizefighters like the now-48-year-old and occasional exhibition-bout-fighting Floyd Mayweather have learned the hard way, not paying attention to the money and the purse has consequences above and beyond the fine print in or out of your prime.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Ellie Goulding was initiated into pop stardom the hard way.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Some young workers may already be learning that lesson the hard way.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 29 Jan. 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 16 Feb. 2026.
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