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 too many business owners learn the hard way that sales don’t guarantee business survival.
—
Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
While his father is the eighth-winningest head coach in NFL history, Brian had to earn the seat at the end of the table the hard way.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Some brands have learnt that lesson the hard way.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
That’s not lost on Bueckers, who learned the hard way about setting up savings accounts and investment portfolios.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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Melissa Houston, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
While his father is the eighth-winningest head coach in NFL history, Brian had to earn the seat at the end of the table the hard way.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Some brands have learnt that lesson the hard way.
—Karen Gilchrist, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2025
That’s not lost on Bueckers, who learned the hard way about setting up savings accounts and investment portfolios.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 9 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 15 Sep. 2025.
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