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

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 Having asserted their power, voters proved difficult to subdue again. — Asim Ali, Time, 24 Oct. 2026 Others were dealing divorce, custody issues or other difficult life events. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 Other key reasons included feeling part of something bigger than oneself (16%), holding memories with family and friends (13%), experiencing a sense of wonder (12%) and finding support during difficult periods (8%). — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Together, these efforts can help smooth the often difficult path from the first unexplained symptoms to an accurate diagnosis, while reducing the risk of both misdiagnosis and unnecessary delays. — Bruce Bebo, STAT, 24 Oct. 2026 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. complicated
Adjective
  • Such calculations are part of a wider effort to understand why molecular simulations remain challenging.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • But the shift in college athletics has required an internal reconciling that is even more challenging than the external education.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • The case has led to calls for tougher oversight of churches and other religious organizations in a country where religious faith plays a prominent role in public life.
    — Jefferson Kahinju Reuters, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Thermal equilibrium might sound like a tough concept, but hundreds of systems reach them around us on a daily basis.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • Rejecing the marketing formula Brand building has gotten harder as marketing chiefs face growing pressure to prove their value.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Trump just didn’t understand—and didn’t care—that any chief’s most important duty is to tell the president hard truths.
    — Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of hard
Adjective
  • Adolescence is an exquisitely sensitive time in the brain’s development.
    — Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The chipmaker’s relationships with customers are similarly interlaced and sensitive.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensitive
Adjective
  • Like SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, many founders in tech have moonshot performance pay packages, in which rigorous stock price growth is tied to massive pay hurdles.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Every travel story is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of travel products.
    — Liz Knueven, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • But this many-pronged approach to national defense could be problematic.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Conversely, those who are secure in their relationships have the lowest level of problematic social media use.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of problematic
Adjective
  • And as routine tasks are automated, workers could lose opportunities to develop the experience needed for more demanding work.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
  • The Sun enters your 12th House, drawing your attention toward rest, reflection, privacy, unfinished matters, and everything easier to hear when the outside world becomes less demanding.
    — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • Sports cars are getting bigger, heavier, and more complicated.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The mental load of harder cases As AI takes on routine tasks, human agents may be left dealing with a greater share of complicated cases — and be required to pick up the slack when the technology fails.
    — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of complicated

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 27 Oct. 2026.

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