1
as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
a difficult task
a difficult time
a difficult subject
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of difficult
These 30 hours were the most difficult time in during the whole experience.
—
Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
The same ingredients that target dirt and oils in your hair can easily be redirected to lift difficult grease around the home.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 June 2025
That would put the Federal Reserve in a difficult position.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 June 2025
As civil war looms, their lives intertwine through unlikely alliances and emotional entanglements, until war and betrayal force difficult choices.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Julian Roberts-Grmela, New York Daily News, 23 June 2025
The same ingredients that target dirt and oils in your hair can easily be redirected to lift difficult grease around the home.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 23 June 2025
That would put the Federal Reserve in a difficult position.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 23 June 2025
As civil war looms, their lives intertwine through unlikely alliances and emotional entanglements, until war and betrayal force difficult choices.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
-
As such, piloting an FPV drone is a completely different, entirely more challenging kettle of fish than piloting a standard camera drone.—
Sam Kieldsen,
Wired News,
27 June 2025
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All of these factors combine to make AI adoption incredibly challenging, expensive and time-consuming.—
Dave Friend,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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Even these young players already have major tournament experience — a huge strength given their tough group.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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However, generally speaking, insoluble fiber is commonly found in whole grains, bran, legumes, nuts, seeds, produce skins, and tough vegetables and fruits.—
Mara Santilli,
SELF,
27 June 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
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Adjective
-
American military and diplomatic outposts across the globe are on high alert after a U.S. bombing raid on Saturday struck three of Iran’s most sensitive nuclear facilities, prompting vows of retaliation from Tehran and raising fears of a widening regional war.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
23 June 2025
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The observatory’s mirror design, sensitive camera and telescope speed are all the first of its kind, enabling Rubin to spot tiny, faint objects such as asteroids.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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The next afternoon, Gomes sat in and watched Ohtani throw a rigorous bullpen session to simulate multiple innings.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
-
Adopt a zero-trust security model that emphasizes rigorous access rules and constant authentication.—
Rob Lydic,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
-
And if that decline becomes problematic, it will likely be tied to physical decline that makes an LTIR exit viable.—
Jonas Siegel,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
-
Attempts to stem the flow of materials that could aid Kim's nuclear program became even more problematic last year when Russia vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that would have extended the mandate of a panel of experts enforcing sanctions on North Korea.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Adjective
-
But the plaintiffs in the case and the Biden administration said the appeals court was wrong to apply that standard and should have instead analyzed it under the most demanding level, strict scrutiny, because the law impedes adults' access to speech protected by the Constitution.—
June 27,
CBS News,
27 June 2025
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Further stymying manufacturing’s renaissance is that plant work isn’t just dirty and physically demanding – albeit less than in prior generations – but also relatively low-paying with limited career prospects.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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But Martone is one of the very best prospects in this draft and gives the Flyers size, high-end skill (he’s got plus traits as a shooter, handler and playmaker), and a formidable one-two punch at right wing with Matvei Michkov.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
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The actress portrayed formidable sensei Kim Da-Eun on the Netflix series that ended in February after six seasons.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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