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
But Peter is refreshingly candid about the difficulties.
—
Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Powerscourt, a small Irish distillery, was in receivership after reporting major financial difficulties.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2026
Each is, respectively, still the most successful play and film by a Latino play and film in the United States, and Alvarado unpacks each as a breakthrough for an underrepresented minority while also acknowledging the difficulties surrounding them.
—Jake Cole, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
These difficulties force them to communicate, trust, and adjust to one another’s rhythm.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
At Tuesday’s meeting, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser described some of the difficulties with local measures that restrict what federal agents can and cannot do.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Students gain firsthand knowledge of intergenerational trauma; the difficulties of rebuilding; the prevalence of anxiety, worry and depression in survivor homes; and so much more.
—Chad Gibbs, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
The shelter also had problems serving the existing community, taking in fewer animals due to difficulties moving them through adoption or rescue, and placing greater emphasis on caring for sick or injured animals.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Adding to the difficulties was a running game that struggled for consistency after Najee Harris tore his Achilles tendon in Week 3.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Sarwant Singh, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Powerscourt, a small Irish distillery, was in receivership after reporting major financial difficulties.
—Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 23 Jan. 2026
Each is, respectively, still the most successful play and film by a Latino play and film in the United States, and Alvarado unpacks each as a breakthrough for an underrepresented minority while also acknowledging the difficulties surrounding them.
—Jake Cole, IndieWire, 22 Jan. 2026
These difficulties force them to communicate, trust, and adjust to one another’s rhythm.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
At Tuesday’s meeting, Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser described some of the difficulties with local measures that restrict what federal agents can and cannot do.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Students gain firsthand knowledge of intergenerational trauma; the difficulties of rebuilding; the prevalence of anxiety, worry and depression in survivor homes; and so much more.
—Chad Gibbs, The Conversation, 21 Jan. 2026
The shelter also had problems serving the existing community, taking in fewer animals due to difficulties moving them through adoption or rescue, and placing greater emphasis on caring for sick or injured animals.
—Devan Patel, Mercury News, 14 Jan. 2026
Adding to the difficulties was a running game that struggled for consistency after Najee Harris tore his Achilles tendon in Week 3.
—Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulties
Noun
-
Black History Month is a good time to remember the unfair hardships placed on Black people throughout history, but also a time to celebrate their triumphs in spite of it.—
Terri Huggins Hart,
Parents,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Local residents are facing hardships as weather conditions keep them from getting to work.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cotton said one of the law's complications is that, in many cases involving AI, there's essentially no victim; the images often are generated by a computer program.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Mothers are encouraged to try pumping as soon as possible after the baby's birth, but some moms have medical complications that might reduce their supply or delay their ability to pump.—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Heading into the week, Senate GOP leaders were forging ahead with the funding plan, beginning procedural steps Monday to put the full package of bills on the floor later this week despite objections from Democrats.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
In 2015, Suzuki found that Abe’s allies had signed off on the Church’s name change (to the Family Federation) over the objections of other government officials and civic groups.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Target, the second-largest public corporation headquartered in the state (after UnitedHealth), experienced a front-page blowback from political controversies twice in recent years.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Elon Musk’s growing involvement in international politics, social media controversies, and ideological battles has begun to bleed into Tesla’s brand perception—particularly outside the United States.—
Peter Lyon,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The company states that every dataset, every algorithm, is curated by veterinarians who have worked in clinics, faced emergency cases, and navigated the complexities of treatment decisions.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
-
This project has more complexities than others around the country, Rock and Pratt said.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
There are exceptions, including former vice president Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth and Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11.—
Pamela McClintock,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The deans forwarded 54 courses to the university's president, and 48 exceptions were granted.—
Rachel Wolf,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Think of them like a referee of sorts—someone who can make official calls when questions or disputes come up.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Jan. 2026
-
For hours, in the suffocating heat, Dooley sifted through endless accounts of mundane colonial matters—church records, itemizations, legal disputes, petty complaints.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Cumming said the city's information technology department also abruptly cut off part of her office administrator's access, including the ability to see who else in city government may be looking at whistleblower complaints and documents related to ethics investigations.—
Mike Hellgren,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
For hours, in the suffocating heat, Dooley sifted through endless accounts of mundane colonial matters—church records, itemizations, legal disputes, petty complaints.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Difficulties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulties. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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