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Synonym Chooser

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

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

the arduous task of rebuilding

When could difficult be used to replace arduous?

While in some cases nearly identical to arduous, 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 is it sensible to use hard instead of arduous?

The synonyms hard and arduous are sometimes interchangeable, but 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 arduous Rebuilding will be long and arduous. Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 After all, acting is a complicated, arduous discipline that shouldn’t be reduced to easy laughs drawn from a few seconds of film played on a loop. Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025 Due to the Jenga-like tower of precarious issues, the act of parenting becomes more arduous and challenging for Linda — a chore even. Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025 Barnwell argues that surrendering second- and fourth-round picks, while getting both Hendrickson and Phillips, is not an arduous price for the Lions to pay as a team with Super Bowl aspirations. Josh Buckhalter, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arduous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arduous
Adjective
  • These events encourage community members to dispose of hazardous materials like gasoline, oil, chemicals, and more, which can be difficult to dispose of and pose a safety risk if not handled correctly.
    Kamron Sanders, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Oct. 2025
  • Don't Look Now manipulates audiences' minds, mixing elements of the occult with the overwhelming need for hope into a plot twist audiences will find difficult to swallow.
    Steven Thrash, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The stalemate over funding in Washington comes at a challenging time for the more than 40 million Americans carrying education debt.
    Annie Nova, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2025
  • According to construction manager John Kearns, the oceans swells became too challenging, moving the barge too much for the crane to operate safely.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The Falcons' offense has emerged as one of the toughest in the league, causing multiple turnovers a game.
    MSNBC Newsweek, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Oct. 2025
  • How self-reflection operates matters because it will always be needed to make wiser choices about our toughest challenges.
    Big Think, Big Think, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • As the founder and CEO of Shondaland – a media empire behind hits like Scandal, Inventing Anna Bridgerton and more – Rhimes balances intense storytelling with the equally demanding role of being a mother of three.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Thank you for your demanding, lyrical, and sensual body of work, and for your fidelity to the light itself.
    Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike psychiatric or weight-loss drugs, finasteride's cosmetic classification may have shielded it from rigorous post-marketing scrutiny.
    Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products.
    Ryley Amond, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Peyton Manning had a night in San Diego that remains hard to wrap one’s head around.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
  • But while prosecutors and law enforcement continue doing the hard work of keeping Orange County safe, the County CEO appears intent on undermining that success.
    Todd Spitzer, Oc Register, 19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Starters Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Ohtani make up one of the most formidable playoff rotations in recent memory and their lineup with Ohtani at the top followed by stars like Mookie Betts, Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez and a slew of others.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Edouard Langlois, a formidable dark-bearded gentleman, was the artistic director of the local Edwin Booth Theatre.
    Robert Eggers, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Arduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arduous. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.

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