1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complexity
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult
there was a minor difficulty when we realized that the store had already closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
the only difficulty I have with the dress is its color—does it come in anything besides purple?
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in controversy
variance of opinion on a matter
the theologian's ongoing difficulties with the Vatican
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficulty
Speaking to reporters gathered at Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, the hospital where Francis is being treated, Dr. Alfieri had described the difficulties the pope’s medical team was facing to calibrate the right treatment for the pontiff, who has pneumonia but also a complex infection.
—
Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The drug, leucovorin, is a prescription vitamin that functions similarly to folic acid, helping to restore folate levels in patients who may have difficulty absorbing or using it, according to Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and the CEO and co-founder of Vitalize, a private supplement company.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025
For both the animated and live-action cinematic work, the storyboards can help the film team understand how to shoot the scenes, anticipate possible difficulties, and facilitate the actors in understanding their characters and the special settings.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2025
And the difficulties, of course, is that Europe as a continent, is nowhere near ready to replace the U.S., say overnight, in terms of securing NATO's defenses in Europe.
—Adam Bearne, NPR, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025
The drug, leucovorin, is a prescription vitamin that functions similarly to folic acid, helping to restore folate levels in patients who may have difficulty absorbing or using it, according to Katy Dubinsky, a New York pharmacist and the CEO and co-founder of Vitalize, a private supplement company.
—Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 22 Feb. 2025
For both the animated and live-action cinematic work, the storyboards can help the film team understand how to shoot the scenes, anticipate possible difficulties, and facilitate the actors in understanding their characters and the special settings.
—Photovogue, Vogue, 21 Feb. 2025
And the difficulties, of course, is that Europe as a continent, is nowhere near ready to replace the U.S., say overnight, in terms of securing NATO's defenses in Europe.
—Adam Bearne, NPR, 21 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulty
Noun
-
Surrounded by unpredictability and hardship, one certainty remains for Herzallah: that if help is given, Palestinians can rebuild.—
Camilla Alcini,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2025
-
Her great-grandmom’s sudden death due to the then untreatable disease tuberculosis caused all those hardships.—
Sweta Kaushal,
Forbes,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Industry groups should push for qualified leadership appointments at crucial agencies like the DEA, FDA and USDA—officials who understand both cannabis policy complexities and public health implications.—
Ricardo Baca,
Rolling Stone,
19 Feb. 2025
-
The challenges are not just about the volume but also the complexity and fragmentation of data generated by sensors, machines, and smart factories.—
Steve Banker,
Forbes,
19 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
His nomination to become the nation’s 26th Health and Human Services Secretary was met with considerable objection from the medical community.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Multiple speakers were also allowed to accuse Israel of carrying out a genocide, also with no objection from Lauber.—
Rachel Wolf,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Not without controversy AstroForge has already butted heads with the science community.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN,
25 Feb. 2025
-
However, the controversy surrounding the actress’ old tweets threw her Oscars attendance into question.—
Abby Monteil,
Them,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
This only adds to the complications for millennials and Gen Z, Bob Driscoll Senior Vice President and Director of Residential Lending at Rockland Trust, said.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Three doctors who research or treat liver disease said that complications, such as infections or blood clots, are somewhat expected after a transplant, but patient outcomes are generally positive.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC News,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The exception is the SanDisk Desk Drive, which is a tabletop SSD that requires its own power source.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
23 Feb. 2025
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The only exception to this rule, the official said, would be when the videos of the rapes were shown.—
Katie Ebner-Landy,
The New Yorker,
22 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The network brought a federal lawsuit and a judge quickly sided with CNN in the dispute on due process grounds, leading the White House to back down from the legal fight.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN,
21 Feb. 2025
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Weston, 34, and Fulton, 57, were allegedly involved in a verbal dispute that turned physical on April 28, 2024.—
Charmaine Patterson,
People.com,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The 42-page Maryland complaint claims these actions amount to a broad censorship campaign and an unconstitutional power grab.—
Ross O'Keefe,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
22 Feb. 2025
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The complaint names Trump, the U.S. State Department, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio as defendants.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulty. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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