ARDUOUS Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

arduous

adjective

ˈär-jə-wəs

Definition of arduous next

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort climbing Mount Everest is an arduous, exhausting challenge

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention the arduous task of doing the research for my term paper

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Last year’s Big Beautiful Bill law expanded the SALT deduction to $40,000 after arduous negotiations with Republicans, including Lawler, whose district has high local taxes. —

Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026 To collect the civil judgment, her attorneys will rely on an anti-terrorist law to pursue frozen Cuban assets in this country - an arduous process that will involve finding the assets, garnishing them and then obtaining President Bush’s approval to tap them. —

Miami Herald Archives, Miami Herald, 20 May 2026 The Quiet Nose campaign, which also features Crump, Betts, Cooper Flagg, Tyrese Maxey and Darius Garland, sits somewhere in the intersection of both, highlighting the arduous, yet less-celebrated behind-the-scenes moments that athletes know well. —

Riley Jones, Footwear News, 19 May 2026 The arduous part is remembering it. —

Drew Goins, The Atlantic, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for arduous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for arduous

Adjective

When Thomson went through a difficult divorce, in 2014, Djena would often check in on her, showing up at her door with food.

— Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Crow-Armstrong had just failed to make a highly difficult, leaping catch at the wall.

— Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026