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
The article ends: Tyler Hall, a marketing manager in Boston, learned about Leo the hard way earlier this year, when one of his company’s restaurants, Sonsie, was featured in a review.
—
Shannon Doyne, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Tom Holland learned that the hard way after his U.K. ID was rejected while attempting purchase his own non-alcoholic beer brand, Bero, on a recent trip to Target.
—EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Last year, a Bugatti owner in Texas found that out the hard way, spilling a can of Red Bull in her Chiron’s door pocket.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2025
Premier League fans are now accustomed to seeing footage of VAR officials in Stockley Park drawing lines to determine whether a player was offside, but things operate differently in the Champions League — and Manchester City fans found out the hard way.
—Elias Burke, The Athletic, 11 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for the hard way
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Shannon Doyne, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Tom Holland learned that the hard way after his U.K. ID was rejected while attempting purchase his own non-alcoholic beer brand, Bero, on a recent trip to Target.
—EW.com, 19 Feb. 2025
Last year, a Bugatti owner in Texas found that out the hard way, spilling a can of Red Bull in her Chiron’s door pocket.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 14 Feb. 2025
Premier League fans are now accustomed to seeing footage of VAR officials in Stockley Park drawing lines to determine whether a player was offside, but things operate differently in the Champions League — and Manchester City fans found out the hard way.
—Elias Burke, The Athletic, 11 Feb. 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 28 Feb. 2025.
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