1
as in hardship
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 complexity
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 objection
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 controversy
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 difficulty
According to the report, finance chief Sarah Friar has warned colleagues that if revenue growth doesn't accelerate, the company could face difficulty funding future compute agreements.
—
Yun Li, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
That process is slow, the sources say, because of the difficulty in communicating with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose location is being kept secret.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Another teacher, Matthew Johnson, said the district has had difficulty filling positions due to the pay.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Fritz testified that Horner has alexithymia, which is a difficulty processing his own emotions and understanding the emotions of others.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Yun Li, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
That process is slow, the sources say, because of the difficulty in communicating with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, whose location is being kept secret.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 Apr. 2026
Another teacher, Matthew Johnson, said the district has had difficulty filling positions due to the pay.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 28 Apr. 2026
Fritz testified that Horner has alexithymia, which is a difficulty processing his own emotions and understanding the emotions of others.
—Harriet Ramos, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulty
Noun
-
Economic hardship and devaluations of the rial were key factors behind major anti-government protests at the start of the year.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The government says the hardship is the consequence of an unjust war inflicted on Iranians by the US and Israel.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Each panel was archived, ensuring the bike could be repaired or recreated if ever damaged—a necessity given the complexity of the forms.—
Eric Hendrikx,
Robb Report,
22 Apr. 2026
-
To witness someone in all their complexity and to detail that complexity is an act of love.—
Jesmyn Ward,
Vanity Fair,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Kelly said a decision to release surveillance footage despite investigators’ objections became a lasting distraction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Coleman decided to blend Italian cooking with barbecue cooking by introducing BBQ spaghetti—in spite of her mother’s objections.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Chavez-DeRemer’s departure came as several controversies were surrounding her, her office and her family members.—
Jared Gans,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The all-gender bathrooms have been a source of controversy for some conservatives.—
Jack Harvel
April 20,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The maneuvering, complications, and curiosity, all of it, begin beyond the first selection.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Since only a small percentage of people appeal their denials, insurers likely have savings in the short term, though those may not last if people experience complications from discharging too early, Fox said.—
Meg Wingerter,
Denver Post,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Avdija took exception to Castle’s actions and shoved him.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Future observations, especially across more wavelengths and with next-generation detectors, will be crucial to confirm whether this behavior is typical or a rare exception.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The unresolved regulatory boundaries have led to numerous legal disputes with the states and tribes that regulate and tax gambling.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
-
This week, the dispute between The Deb actress Charlotte MacInnes and its director, Rebel Wilson, spilled into the Federal Court in Australia, and Jake has been tracking the story.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The fraud scheme netted $20 million from fraudulent loans that Davis and Evins used to buy real estate, jewelry and cars, according to the complaint.—
Ryan Gaydos OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After Navarro filed a complaint alleging the work had been wrongly kept from her, a Madrid judge, acting with the support of prosecutors, ordered Spain’s Ministry of Culture to take custody of it citing its potential importance to the country’s historical heritage.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulty. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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