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
Many people discover this the hard way when a surprise bill arrives weeks after a doctor’s appointment.
—
Clarissa Windham-Bradstock, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The one who learned the hard way that truth is freedom.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Semenyo had to do things the hard way.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Well, the 70 millimeter IMAX frame has resolution, or image quality, up to three times higher than digital — art the hard way.
—Nicole Young, CBS News, 17 May 2026
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Clarissa Windham-Bradstock, Forbes.com, 20 May 2026
The one who learned the hard way that truth is freedom.
—Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
Semenyo had to do things the hard way.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 17 May 2026
Well, the 70 millimeter IMAX frame has resolution, or image quality, up to three times higher than digital — art the hard way.
—Nicole Young, CBS News, 17 May 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 27 May. 2026.
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