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
Fun mini-games, tons of content and a Challenge Mode that upgrades the difficulty for a second run through the story mean this is massive value for the money, especially at 57% off.
—
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 May 2025
Greif: Indiana is on the verge of the NBA Finals by taking the path of most resistance, given the ridiculously high degree of difficulty of victories against Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 May 2025
Certain fish that are caught are worth more points based on difficulty of catching them and other criteria.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Flip invented the Wheezer Scale for gauging the difficulty of hiking up hills.
—Flip Putthoff, Arkansas Online, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 28 May 2025
Greif: Indiana is on the verge of the NBA Finals by taking the path of most resistance, given the ridiculously high degree of difficulty of victories against Milwaukee, Cleveland and New York.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 May 2025
Certain fish that are caught are worth more points based on difficulty of catching them and other criteria.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 28 May 2025
Flip invented the Wheezer Scale for gauging the difficulty of hiking up hills.
—Flip Putthoff, Arkansas Online, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulty
Noun
-
The Tower is not always an omen of hardship and struggle.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 June 2025
-
Vidal Banuelos said the restaurant never recovered from the financial hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products.—
Hannah Parry
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
-
Help Is Available Not only can managing your tax picture take up a lot of time, but the complexity can sometimes feel overwhelming.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Several Republicans have already expressed objections to the legislation as approved by the House.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
4 June 2025
-
Maryland parents fight for right to opt kids out of LGBTQ+ school materials The school case surrounds parents’ objections in Maryland to books with LGBTQ+ characters that Montgomery County Public Schools, which is based in the Washington metro area, added to its curriculum in 2022.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
3 June 2025
Noun
-
However, California is far from the only state that saw its girls' track and field championships overshadowed by trans athlete controversy.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
1 June 2025
-
Salgado’s pictures were also freighted with their fair share of controversy.—
Chris Wiley,
New Yorker,
31 May 2025
Noun
-
Nacua said his father, who died when Nacua was a youngster, experienced complications from the disease.—
Houston Mitchell,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
-
His death was ruled an accident, likely due to complications from excessive drinking.—
Max Blau,
ProPublica,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
The exception was fourth-round receiver Jordan Watkins, who caught three passes — two from Purdy — in the practice.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
This requirement effectively limits poll worker eligibility to U.S. citizens and excludes most noncitizens, with a few exceptions, such as high school students serving as student poll workers under supervision.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Noun
-
Those CBAs also require that should there be a dispute as to whether the league, a club, a union, or a player abided by their obligations under the CBA, such dispute be settled through a confidential arbitration process.—
Chris Deubert,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
The Supreme Court on May 27 declined to get involved in a dispute about mining on land sacred to the San Carlos Apache Tribe, a case that religious groups backed to test the scope of a 1993 federal law protecting religious freedom.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
The report echoes complaints shared throughout the industry, including by the world’s largest European soccer streamer, DAZN.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
-
The complaint alleged the men locked O.C.G. in a room for several days and released him only after his sister paid a ransom.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulty. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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