difficult

adjective

dif·​fi·​cult ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt How to pronounce difficult (audio)
Synonyms of difficult
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
was in a difficult position
Why must you be so difficult?
having a difficult time coping with her death
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
found calculus too difficult
difficultly adverb

Synonyms of difficult

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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.
For a Marlins team that has suddenly become difficult to pitch to, Hicks has been easy to overlook and hard to replace. — Tyler M. Carmona, Miami Herald, 8 July 2026 The opt-out mechanism places the burden on authors, is difficult to enforce and provides no remedy against training that has already happened. — Zoey Forbes, The Dial, 7 July 2026 This leave-in treatment is a lifesaver for those whose strands might be a difficult mix of fine and frizzy, leaving behind the perfect amount of hydration and smoothing power without weighing down strands. — Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 7 July 2026 Shady Srour is a Palestinian-Israeli auteur making his way in a difficult climate to produce hard-hitting work. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 July 2026 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

difficile
difficult
difficultly
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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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

More from Merriam-Webster on difficult

Nglish: Translation of difficult for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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