difficult

adjective

dif·​fi·​cult ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt How to pronounce difficult (audio)
Synonyms of difficultnext
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

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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.
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.
As college sports continues its rapid professionalization, the ACC is in a difficult spot. — Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 19 Mar. 2025 Most of the files are scans of documents, and some are blurred or have become faint or difficult to read in the decades since Kennedy's assassination. — Joel Shannon, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025 Her resiliency is reflected in her students, who do not shy from a difficult story. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025 This gap leaves fintechs, PSPs, and even neobanks with a difficult choice: cobble together piecemeal solutions, or risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive digital economy. — Tony Bradley, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for difficult

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, probably back-formation from difficulte difficulty

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of difficult was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

difficult
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Cite this Entry

“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

difficult

adjective
dif·​fi·​cult ˈdif-i-(ˌ)kəlt How to pronounce difficult (audio)
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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