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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficult
This loss is especially difficult to comprehend.
—
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Incorporating them will prove even more difficult.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
And then there is the influx of grief horror, stories that take all of the complicated and difficult-to-reconcile emotions of grief and use supernatural horror to enhance the terror.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
The newborn baby was diagnosed with a condition called Congenital Hyperinsulinism, which required a lengthy hospital stay and several surgeries to remove portions of the pancreas, according to a family Facebook page documenting the difficult journey.
—Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
Incorporating them will prove even more difficult.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2025
And then there is the influx of grief horror, stories that take all of the complicated and difficult-to-reconcile emotions of grief and use supernatural horror to enhance the terror.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2025
The newborn baby was diagnosed with a condition called Congenital Hyperinsulinism, which required a lengthy hospital stay and several surgeries to remove portions of the pancreas, according to a family Facebook page documenting the difficult journey.
—Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
-
The big story Immigration anxieties and a challenging job market have sparked an online backlash over China's latest attempt at attracting global talent — a new visa program announced in August.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
-
His expertise could greatly benefit Ott, ahead of what is destined to be a challenging year in Phoenix.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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An editor approached me with a tough assignment of tasting, evaluating and reviewing a chicken Caesar wrap.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
27 Sep. 2025
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The news that Aleksander Barkov will all but assuredly miss all of the 2025-26 season after undergoing surgery on Friday to repair the ACL and MCL in right knee was tough for the Florida Panthers to hear.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Some of those have of a combination of both, but MetLife Stadium is hard of playing surface as there is in the league.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Sep. 2025
-
When Jason Wald, VP of production, pitched him on Longlegs with a two-minute clip, his instinct was to give the film a hard no.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Windows 11 Pro gives you BitLocker encryption, Smart App Control, and biometric login support to help safeguard sensitive information.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
30 Sep. 2025
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Phishing scams often use convincing logos and language to trick you into revealing sensitive information.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Every tax article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.—
David McMillin,
CNBC,
28 Sep. 2025
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The National Nuclear Security Administration funds the sensors, which undergo rigorous shock, vibration, thermal vacuum, and prompt X-ray testing to survive launch and the harsh space environment.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But it’s proved to be especially problematic at a time when the typical student body is growing academically weaker.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
30 Sep. 2025
-
No two players better personified Houston’s problematic response to injuries than Alvarez and center fielder Jake Meyers, who injured himself on July 9 while running out to his position before first pitch.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The week before was so demanding with Manchester United, Napoli, and especially Arsenal.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Leaf raking is more eco-friendly as well as more physically demanding and time-consuming.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Technological challenges also proved formidable, as ambitious projects like Sealab failed.—
Danny Robb,
JSTOR Daily,
26 Sep. 2025
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Ong will discuss the strategies and creative principles behind the media giant’s approach to leveraging its formidable library of IP in the gaming world.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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