1
as in hardships
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complications
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult
there was a minor difficulty when we realized that the store had already closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in objections
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
the only difficulty I have with the dress is its color—does it come in anything besides purple?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in controversies
variance of opinion on a matter
the theologian's ongoing difficulties with the Vatican
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficulties
The screening generated immediate excitement, but the film soon encountered difficulties securing distribution.
—
José Salazar,
IndieWire,
22 June 2026
There have been numerous books written about the difficulties making of that classic.
—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
For some, these negative self-views can lead to difficulties with commitment and more conflict between partners.
—
Christina Balderrama-Durbin,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
The epic has been adapted many times, but the stiffness of most attempts makes one wonder whether the difficulties aren’t insurmountable.
—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
For some men, the difficulties stem from not having had a proper father figure to learn from, or from unexpected battles with postpartum depression.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Witnesses described the difficulties and pain these prices were causing motorists, as well as the pressure on family budgets.
—
Daniel Yergin,
Time,
20 June 2026
Vozinha’s mother, who had initially faced difficulties obtaining a visa, is also expected to arrive in the United States ahead of Sunday’s game.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
Defying those difficulties, Alex Vlack’s The Revisionist, a Tribeca world premiere, gives us not one but four main characters who are published or aspiring writers.
—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
José Salazar,
IndieWire,
22 June 2026
There have been numerous books written about the difficulties making of that classic.
—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
22 June 2026
For some, these negative self-views can lead to difficulties with commitment and more conflict between partners.
—
Christina Balderrama-Durbin,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
The epic has been adapted many times, but the stiffness of most attempts makes one wonder whether the difficulties aren’t insurmountable.
—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
For some men, the difficulties stem from not having had a proper father figure to learn from, or from unexpected battles with postpartum depression.
—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
21 June 2026
Witnesses described the difficulties and pain these prices were causing motorists, as well as the pressure on family budgets.
—
Daniel Yergin,
Time,
20 June 2026
Vozinha’s mother, who had initially faced difficulties obtaining a visa, is also expected to arrive in the United States ahead of Sunday’s game.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
Defying those difficulties, Alex Vlack’s The Revisionist, a Tribeca world premiere, gives us not one but four main characters who are published or aspiring writers.
—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulties
Noun
-
The decrease in customers comes at a crucial time, after years of hardships for local restaurateurs.
-
According to Alvarez, Nina’s brother, whose dream was to become a swimmer is also feeling the strain of the family’s hardships.
Noun
-
Sandra Cherfrere, an attorney and child of Haitian immigrants, highlighted the practical complications for families with children born abroad.
-
GLP-1s have been shown to lower the risk of complications and improve symptoms in people with this form of heart failure.
Noun
-
The judge also overruled any further objections from the defense regarding Blankenship’s testimony on the matter.
-
Despite those objections, the administration is expected to proceed with the transaction and formally notify Congress in the coming days.
Noun
-
Has this reignited the controversies surrounding you and your translation?
-
Around the same time, Hogshead began a letter writing campaign aimed at drawing broader attention to Butler’s controversies and urging other volleyball organizations and teams to disassociate themselves from him.
Noun
-
This essential guide helps founders navigate the complexities of accelerating business growth while preserving company culture and values.
-
Points, too, for the solid casting, from the leads’ tricky pivoting from openness to caginess, to the criminally underseen Wasikowska, who navigates maternal complexities of worry and compassion that confound easy pigeonholing.
Noun
-
The immigration agency had already implemented heightened vetting of candidates and stricter reviews of disability exceptions to the English and civics requirements earlier in 2025.
-
There were exceptions to the lack of art in the mainstream Christian Connecticut cultural domain.
Noun
-
Showdowns over international inspectors caused years of disputes between the US and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and more recently Iran.
-
Council members ultimately said the purpose of the sister city program was to build relationships between communities, not to settle international political disputes.
Noun
-
Back in 2018, there were complaints about the ads.
-
The breakdown came after years of increasingly frequent complaints about train delays and service interruptions.
Cite this Entry
“Difficulties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulties. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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