difficulty

dif·fi·cul·ty

noun \-(ˌ)kəl-tē\

plural dif·fi·cul·ties

Definition of DIFFICULTY

1

: the quality or state of being difficult

2

: controversy, disagreement

3

: objection

4

: something difficult : impediment

5

: embarrassment, trouble —usually used in plural

Examples of DIFFICULTY

1. She underestimated the difficulty of saving so much money.
2. <the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation>

Origin of DIFFICULTY

Middle English difficulte, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficilis not easy, from dis- + facilis easy — more at facile

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to DIFFICULTY

Synonyms

adversity, asperity, hardness, hardship, rigor

Antonyms

accord, agreement, consensus, harmony, unanimity

Related Words

discomfort, inconvenience, nuisance; affliction, trial, tribulation; knock, misfortune, mishap, tragedy; bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, handicap, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, pons asinorum, rub, shackle, snag, stop, trammel; block, chain, deterrent, encumbrance, fetter, inhibition; hump

Near Antonyms

advantage, break, opportunity