effortful

adjective

ˈe-fərt-fəl How to pronounce effortful (audio)
Definition of effortfulnext
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort the book's abstruse subject matter and dense prose make for effortful reading

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of effortful However, theories about how people regulate their emotions suggest that, like any effortful psychological process, reappraisal involves multiple steps. — Christian Waugh, The Conversation, 12 May 2026 The same goes for anyone who finds visualization mentally effortful in a way that feels alerting rather than relaxing. — Angela Haupt, Time, 5 May 2026 But this Roundabout production at Studio 54 — the site of glittering debauchery of another era — just isn’t all that much fun, being mostly effortful, maddening and finally exhausting. — Frank Rizzo, Variety, 24 Apr. 2026 Now came the surprise of my effortful steps, the shock of how unyielding the dress’s shell was, as if I were being held in place by a firm hand. — Han Ong, New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for effortful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effortful
  1. difficult
  2. challenging
  3. rigorous
  4. tough
  5. demanding
  6. hard
Adjective
  • The pilot must compensate manually using the controller, which can be difficult if the aircraft is far away or difficult to see.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2026
  • The chocolatey all-suede style was first released in October 2023 and has become increasingly difficult to track down over the years, with certain sizes commanding premium prices on the secondary market.
    — Riley Jones, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Manufacturing electronic devices from it remains difficult, particularly because reliably controlling its electrical properties through doping is challenging.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Porter knew Friday’s game would be a challenging one against the Tillers.
    — Steve Fryer, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Under 1% leave during the rigorous six-month SEAL Qualification Training course, which is the final leg of the pipeline before they are assigned to a SEAL team.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The agreement capped Iran’s uranium enrichment levels, reduced its operational centrifuge numbers, required Iran to repurpose its nuclear weapons development facilities, and established more rigorous international inspections to verify compliance.
    — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • With the balance of power in Tallahassee at stake, Miami’s Republican state senators fended off tough challenges Tuesday night, while Democratic candidates flipped several South Florida state House seats for the minority party in Florida’s capital.
    — Miami Herald staff, Miami Herald, 4 Nov. 2026
  • Whoever wins the contest will be stepping into one of the California’s toughest political jobs.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • The operator brings the experience while the machine takes on the physically demanding work.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026
  • For these more demanding tasks, the K70 offers a full-coverage cleaning mode that tackles floors, walls, waterlines and slopes.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • The Chiefs have a far more difficult remaining schedule (eighth hardest) than the Broncos do (27th), per DVOA data.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The hardest part is often matching the format to the problem rather than simply choosing what’s most convenient.
    — Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of hard

Browse Nearby Words

effort
effortful
effortfulness
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Cite this Entry

“Effortful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effortful. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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