as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the book's abstruse subject matter and dense prose make for effortful reading
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of effortful
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
What a transformation that would’ve been, of the effortful, unchanging days.
—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for effortful
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
What a transformation that would’ve been, of the effortful, unchanging days.
—
Nell Freudenberger,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for effortful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effortful
Adjective
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Sarah Buck, Chicago Driving has become harder The rapid increase in bike lanes has made driving much more difficult and tedious, with numerous delays due to many streets being reduced to one lane in busy areas.
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Republican strategists have welcomed those nominations as an opening for attack in a difficult election year.
Adjective
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This enduring legacy, underscores the lawyer's role as an officer of the court, preserving the rule of law even when challenging authority.
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Educate your family on our country’s history, both good and challenging.
Adjective
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Every cybersecurity article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors.
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This improves both customer and agent experience, while still meeting rigorous business standards around accuracy, reliability, and risk management.
Adjective
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MacDonald agrees that some of Kiros' positions could put Democratic candidates in a tough spot.
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The 34 measures include cuts to income tax for low- and middle income families, an overhaul of the creaking pension system, tougher rules for employees' sick leave and a reduction of the country's stifling bureaucracy.
Adjective
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Building a paper airplane can be as demanding as building the airframe of a real aircraft.
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Once the evaluation process is complete, the company plans to scale production to thousands of units over the next three years, targeting manufacturers seeking to automate physically demanding and hazardous work.
Adjective
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Not long afterward, he was elected president on a platform deeply hostile to the West and its liberal ideology, and especially to the United States — threatening a hard fight in the event of war.
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That’s hard to imagine of a president who uses the office to promote and prosper from his own brand name.
Cite this Entry
“Effortful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effortful. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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