difficult

adjective

dif·fi·cult ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt

Synonyms of difficult next

: hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous

a difficult climb

: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome

a difficult child

having a difficult time coping with her death

: hard to understand : puzzling

difficult reading

found calculus too difficult

difficultly adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for difficult

hard, difficult, arduous mean demanding great exertion or effort.

hard implies the opposite of all that is easy.

farming is hard work

difficult implies the presence of obstacles to be surmounted or puzzles to be resolved and suggests the need of skill or courage.

the difficult ascent of the mountain

arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.

the arduous task of rebuilding

Examples of difficult in a Sentence

We were asked lots of difficult questions. I had to make a very difficult decision. We'll be hiking over difficult terrain. It's more difficult than it sounds. I found myself in a difficult position. Some difficult days lie ahead of us. These changes will make life difficult for everyone involved.

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

The emotional weight of losing that independence is difficult to quantify, but its impact is profound. —

John Hope Bryant, TIME, 18 Jan. 2025 Simplifying Complexity Through Narratives Leaders often need to communicate complex strategies or concepts, which can be difficult for teams to fully grasp. —

Paola Cecchi-Dimeglio, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025 Officials have also warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that's difficult to detect. —

Mark Sherman The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 18 Jan. 2025 Eaves has made the difficult transition from being the primary option at Thornwood to being part of an ensemble for the reigning Class 4A state champions. —

Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for difficult