1
as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficult
This seems like a difficult—if not impossible—proposition for those who live in colder climates or don't have a garden.
—
Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
Distinguishing between improper payments and fraud is difficult for any government program.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Shelton stabilized after a difficult three games that saw Fritz win 12 of the match’s first 13 points and break Shelton’s serve at the first time of asking.
—José Sánchez Córdova, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
Still, KellyAnne Gallagher, the Commuter Rail Coalition CEO, said Tri-Rail has a lot of feats that would be difficult to ignore — recently winning a Transportation Security Administration and Gold Standard Award, for example.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Helena Madden, Martha Stewart, 15 Feb. 2026
Distinguishing between improper payments and fraud is difficult for any government program.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Shelton stabilized after a difficult three games that saw Fritz win 12 of the match’s first 13 points and break Shelton’s serve at the first time of asking.
—José Sánchez Córdova, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
Still, KellyAnne Gallagher, the Commuter Rail Coalition CEO, said Tri-Rail has a lot of feats that would be difficult to ignore — recently winning a Transportation Security Administration and Gold Standard Award, for example.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
-
The Dorm’s New ‘Frenemy’ Their quest will be all the more challenging when a new friend (or foe) appears in the dorm.—
Sarah Scott,
Parents,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Schedule time with a challenging book, as fresh ideas can soothe moods and moderate your protective instincts.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Takaichi has proposed tougher policies on immigration and foreigners, something that resonates with a growing frustration in Japan.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Bryant was tough to stop and scored nine of her 23 points in the first quarter.—
Justin Vigil Zuniga,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The basic things — paying the electric bill, going to the doctor, keeping a roof over your head — get more expensive every day, while wages stay rock-bottom and jobs get harder and harder to find.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Temperatures in many parts of Texas remained below freezing for days, compounding stress on power plants, natural gas facilities, water systems and homes built for heat, not hard freezes.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Thus, the article stressed that the Chinese navy must urgently address these risks, offering an unusually detailed proposal for a systematic crash-response plan, drawing lessons from US Navy salvage practices to improve readiness and protect sensitive technology.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
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The Skechers Aero Razor harnesses the explosive benefits of superfoam while maintaining a sensitive, stable ride.—
Cory Smith,
Outside,
15 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These athletes spend their lives focusing on building physical strength through rigorous training and diets that are honed to provide the nutrients necessary to excel at their sport.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
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Every mortgage article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The actress recently opened up about some of the problematic advice she's received over the years, as well as the shocking suggestion that led her to fire an agent, during a conversation with Eddie Muller at the TCM Classic Film Festival New York Pop-Up.—
Sharareh Drury,
Entertainment Weekly,
16 Feb. 2026
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Inzunza said the lack of clear policies is problematic.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
International trips ranged from casual travel, like sightseeing in the Scottish Highlands, to more demanding objectives, including a 10-day point-to-point ski expedition in Northern Norway and a winter camping trip in Denali National Park.—
Drew Zieff,
Outside,
17 Feb. 2026
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Sanford Meisner, the school’s legendarily demanding director, was impressed.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Mladenov, a Bulgarian diplomat, as the director-general of the board meant to oversee the implementation of the second and far more complicated phase of the ceasefire.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
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If simple, prefabricated asymmetric carbon fibers can act as tiny actuators, engineers may not need complicated coatings or redesigns to build micro-scale devices.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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