1
2

Try This Instead

For
Try This
a difficult task
a formidable task
a daunting task
an enormous task
a difficult time
a hard time
a stressful time
a tough time
a troubled time
a difficult subject
an uncomfortable subject
a tricky subject
a delicate subject
a painful subject
a sensitive subject

Synonym Chooser

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

The words arduous and hard are common synonyms of difficult. While all three words mean "demanding great exertion or effort," 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 would arduous be a good substitute for difficult?

While in some cases nearly identical to difficult, arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.

the arduous task of rebuilding

When could hard be used to replace difficult?

In some situations, the words hard and difficult are roughly equivalent. However, 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 difficult This evidence has been difficult to obtain because the light emitted by these jets is mostly thermal. Robert Lea, Space.com, 30 Jan. 2025 Practical Tips for Adding Fiber to Your Diet Adding more fiber to your diet doesn't have to be difficult. Cristina Mutchler, Health, 30 Jan. 2025 Without the ice, they are forced to hunt in open water, which is a difficult feat for the large apex predator. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 30 Jan. 2025 And these kinds of difficult conversations may have to continue for months—maybe years. Jonaki Mehta, NPR, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for difficult 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
  • But the alternative—growing real red blood cells outside the body—has proved even more challenging.
    Nicola Twilley, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
  • Shakira has had a challenging time since splitting from her ex Gerard Piqué.
    Ilana Kaplan, People.com, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • On the other hand, Hill has had a tough time recently.
    David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
  • But fortunately for the Jayhawks, this game is at Allen Fieldhouse — a tough place for away teams to come and win games.
    Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.
    Alia Wong, USA TODAY, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
  • Under the policy, ICE agents were permitted to enter sensitive locations, such as schools, churches, and hospitals, only under specific circumstances.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Unlike phishing campaigns targeting the entire workforce, red team exercises often involve precise objectives or trophies, such as gaining access to a critical system or sensitive data.
    Lauren Carpenter, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Like many large employers, the agency proactively seeks qualified candidates from as many sources as possible, all of whom must meet rigorous qualifications that of course will vary by position.
    John Yoo and John Shu, Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2025
  • These suppliers undergo rigorous vetting processes and must meet safety standards to prevent potential hazards.
    Tim Bajarin, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Dana, the law professor, sees the contracts Weidner has signed with St. Petersburg and other cities as problematic for exactly that reason.
    Ben Wieder, Miami Herald, 26 Jan. 2025
  • The parallel plotlines involving Ali’s possible descendants and problematic antecedents, including a father (Ercan Kesal) who seems to be particularly abusive towards his wife, collide in highly unusual ways during the movie’s volatile second half.
    Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But since his accident, Edwards has dedicated his life to exploration, already completing more physically demanding challenges than most do in a lifetime.
    Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Influencing Average Daily Step Count Younger adults and those with physically demanding jobs may naturally accumulate more steps throughout the day than older adults or individuals with sedentary occupations.
    Sarah Jividen, Verywell Health, 27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Just a few generations ago, many young children died from infectious diseases, which are still formidable foes globally.
    Brooke Redmond, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025
  • The formidable musician and actor, a muse to many but so much more than that moniker allows, a style icon, and a megawatt star of the Swinging Sixties—with the coolest eyewear to match.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near difficult

Cite this Entry

“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 7 Feb. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on difficult

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!