difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult
ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt 
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
a difficult child
having a difficult time coping with her death
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
found calculus too difficult
difficultly
adverb
Synonyms
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
The only thing that could make persuading a group of pandemic skeptics to care about an infectious-disease outbreak more difficult is your boss—the president of the United States—undercutting your raison d’être.
—
Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Nevertheless, the offer could make OpenAI’s reorganization plans more difficult – and significantly more expensive.
—David Goldman, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
Those in reindeer herding who lost their fathers early, those who found love, and those faced with the difficult choice to fight or forgive.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
After deliberating for parts of three days during the punishment phase of the trial, some jurors told the Tribune the decision to impose the death penalty had been a difficult one.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for difficult 
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Nicholas Florko, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025
Nevertheless, the offer could make OpenAI’s reorganization plans more difficult – and significantly more expensive.
—David Goldman, CNN, 11 Feb. 2025
Those in reindeer herding who lost their fathers early, those who found love, and those faced with the difficult choice to fight or forgive.
—Annika Pham, Variety, 11 Feb. 2025
After deliberating for parts of three days during the punishment phase of the trial, some jurors told the Tribune the decision to impose the death penalty had been a difficult one.
—Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for difficult
Dictionary Entries Near difficult
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 16 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult
ˈdif-i-(ˌ)kəlt
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
a difficult child
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
difficultly
adverb
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