difficult

adjective

ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt How to pronounce difficult (audio)
Definition of difficultnext
1
as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling it's a difficult situation when two of your friends are quarreling and you're trying to stay out of it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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a difficult task
a formidable task
a daunting task
an enormous task
a difficult time
a hard time
a stressful time
a tough time
a troubled time
a difficult subject
an uncomfortable subject
a tricky subject
a delicate subject
a painful subject
a sensitive subject

Synonym Chooser

How is the word difficult different from other adjectives like it?

The words arduous and hard are common synonyms of difficult. While all three words mean "demanding great exertion or effort," 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

When would arduous be a good substitute for difficult?

While in some cases nearly identical to difficult, arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.

the arduous task of rebuilding

When could hard be used to replace difficult?

In some situations, the words hard and difficult are roughly equivalent. However, hard implies the opposite of all that is easy.

farming is hard work

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of difficult The profit model for these outlets has also proven difficult to sustain as once-steady advertising revenue buckles, leading many companies to consolidate or restructure. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 9 June 2025 Numerous international parallels are not difficult to make. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 9 June 2025 Some of them are here, probably under difficult situations. —Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2025 These connections are difficult to make from within, but consultants are trained to see across boundaries. —Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
  1. challenging
  2. tough
  3. hard
  4. sensitive
  5. rigorous
  6. problematic
  7. demanding
  8. formidable
Adjective
  • The rise of one of this season’s greatest scene-stealers makes for a challenging conundrum — how far does the apple fall from the tree?
    — Daniel D'Addario, Variety, 3 June 2025
  • Building wealth can be a challenging task, especially in challenging economic times.
    — Anne-Lyse Ngatta, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • This is a time for doing the tough, often unglamorous job of making the city function for all New Yorkers.
    — Scott Stringer, New York Daily News, 3 June 2025
  • When staring at twin suns like from much greater distances — many light-years away — astronomers have a much tougher time than young Skywalker in determining two stars from one.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 June 2025
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.
    — Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Definition of hard
Adjective
  • Amino acids are more easily absorbed than proteins and do not damage the intestinal environment, which means even those with sensitive digestions can take them.
    — MISAKI KAWATSU, Vogue, 10 June 2025
  • This principle, applied across all workloads, is instrumental for reducing the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data.
    — Ben Blanquera, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • The Council for Higher Education Accreditation ensures accrediting agencies uphold rigorous standards.
    — Hanna Park, CNN Money, 5 June 2025
  • These days, most people delivering your forecasts are scientists with rigorous training in calculus, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, atmospheric physics and the other meteorological coursework.
    — Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • The comment was in answer to how Friends, in its second resurgence in the streaming era, was receiving some criticism for some of its problematic elements, i.e. the lack of diversity, homophobia, sexism, etc.
    — Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • Some lawns are just too big for a bot to handle, and even smaller lawns present more problematic terrain than a carpeted floor.
    — John Mihaly, PC Magazine, 6 June 2025
Definition of problematic
Adjective
  • The nausea is now mostly in the past, Lauren says, and the Lanes are realizing that getting ready for a third child isn’t as demanding as earlier preparations.
    — Nancy Kruh, People.com, 30 May 2025
  • Work and home will be equally demanding, as Venus meets with Jupiter on June 4.
    — Liz Simmons, StyleCaster, 27 May 2025
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • Sinha’s strategic interventions have substantially scaled up businesses, powering a formidable sales pipeline by assisting the company in landing enterprise-level engagements.
    — Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 3 June 2025
  • Everything points to the fact that Karolína’s exceptional talent has caught the attention of the formidable and much admired choirmaster.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 June 2025
Definition of formidable

Browse Nearby Words

differs (over)
difficult
difficulties
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Cite this Entry

“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

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