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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 The thing about this Philadelphia Phillies team that makes doing business difficult is that nearly every player is beloved by the fan base. Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025 Atlanta Auto Brokers is known for its integrity, even in difficult situations. Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2025 Danielle Brian, the executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a group that investigates corruption and waste in the government, said the tax benefit had historically been aimed at encouraging companies to stay in business during difficult times. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 22 Aug. 2025 And as more time passed, reaching out felt more and more difficult. Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
  • Taking the most challenging courses available — like AP, IB, honors, or dual enrollment classes — signals preparedness for college-level work.
    Liz Doe Stone, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Because of this consistent advocacy, the Mayor selected me to help lead efforts to move Council forward through this challenging time.
    Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Even if increasing competition and financial obstruction have influenced summer recruitment, making this season’s challenges tougher, the confidence in Unai Emery and Villa’s football department remains unerring.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
  • Unlike Trump, they aren’t charmed by the Kremlin’s tough guy.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 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
  • The economically sensitive Dow Jones Industrial Average is outperforming the S & P 500 and touching fresh all-time highs following Powell's speech.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 Aug. 2025
  • There’s another potential dynamic at play, too: Will humans be more willing to divulge more sensitive details to a machine than another human?
    Gina Chua, semafor.com, 22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • While the certification was not specifically a result of litigation, pursuing rigorous, third-party validation of AI practices is increasingly viewed as an industry best practice.
    Marc Blythe, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Every insurance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Previous reports by other news outlets have highlighted problematic behaviors by Meta chatbots related to children.
    Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
  • The horror short follows a young woman who makes a ghastly deal with a witch in exchange for her problematic boyfriend.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Baldwin has done it while playing the most difficult and demanding position on the diamond, mentally in terms of daily meetings and film study, and physically from the toll of working beneath pads in the summer heat and getting nicked up from foul tips, collisions and occasional wayward swings.
    David O'Brien, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
  • This has come as a result of America being too demanding and being very political.
    Amira El-Fekki‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • After decades of battling brutal conditions in the Bering Sea, Hansen, 59, is now facing something even more formidable than icy waves — his own mortality.
    Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Huntington Beach: The Oilers remain formidable with the return of All-County duo of Roxie Shaia and Taylor Savage at quarterback and wide receiver, respectively. 4.
    Dan Albano, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 28 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on difficult

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