Synonyms of difficult

difficult

adjective

ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt 

1

as in challenging

requiring considerable physical or mental effort

difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenging
• tough
• hard
• rigorous
• demanding
• formidable
• complicated
• heavy
• rough
• effortful
• arduous
• rugged
• severe
• painful
• strenuous
• exhausting
• tall
• laborious
• sweaty
• uphill
• complex
• testing
• grueling
• intricate
• herculean
• problematic
• exacting
• backbreaking
• toilsome
• killer
• murderous
• serious
• stiff
• tricky
• annoying
• elusive
• stressful
• involved
• trying
• troublesome
• hellacious
• pick-and-shovel
• stubborn
• grim
• brutal
• onerous
• tight
• burdensome
• thorny
• oppressive
• abstract
• moiling
• insoluble
• abstruse
• opaque
• irksome
• Augean
• bruising
• hairy
• bothersome
• recondite
• ticklish
• labored
• strict
• knotty
• vexatious
• distressing
• cruel
• spiny
• stringent
• taxing
• grievous
• inhuman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• light
• soft
• cheap
• effortless
• clear
• undemanding
• facile
• manageable
• elementary
• mindless
• doable
• achievable
• uncomplicated
• smooth
• gentle
• comforting
• painless
• soothing
• relaxed
• accessible
• friendly
• user-friendly
• idiotproof

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

• tough
• sensitive
• problematic
• complicated
• tricky
• hard
• sticky
• delicate
• problem
• complex
• painful
• thorny
• serious
• touchy
• nasty
• hairy
• ticklish
• knotty
• catchy
• dodgy
• spiny
• prickly
• tricksy
• troublesome
• intricate
• involved
• vexing
• abstruse
• abstract
• stressful
• stubborn
• recondite
• inconvenient
• worrisome
• vexatious
• onerous
• burdensome
• demanding
• troublous
• exhausting
• oppressive
• scabrous
• exacting
• importunate
• discommoding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• manageable
• straightforward
• uncomplicated
• painless
• effortless
• unproblematic
• undemanding

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

Recent Examples of difficult

When our wish list is long and our garden is small, narrowing the choices can be difficult. — Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2026

Some rugs are very difficult to wash and dry properly in a home setting. — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 7 Nov. 2026

But this recognition tells us to keep showing up, even when things are difficult. — Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026

What followed was a Monday filled with film review, corrections and — most important — difficult conversations that resonated on both sides of the ball. — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 7 Nov. 2026