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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Recent Examples of effortful
Embodiment comes through repetition, when the nervous system begins to learn safety and repair becomes a natural reflex rather than an effortful performance.
—
Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
But that shouldn’t look too effortful, or overly dependent on novelty or shallow surrealism.
—Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Sennecke’s effortful shift ultimately sent the Capitals into the Ducks’ end, where Husso stymied Connor McMichael on a breakaway.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
The film is a mess, opaque in its argument and tiring in its effortful weirdness, and yet in its best moments has a hypnotic pull.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effortful
Daniel Fusch, USA Today, 19 Jan. 2026
But that shouldn’t look too effortful, or overly dependent on novelty or shallow surrealism.
—Literary Hub, 12 Dec. 2025
Sennecke’s effortful shift ultimately sent the Capitals into the Ducks’ end, where Husso stymied Connor McMichael on a breakaway.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 6 Dec. 2025
The film is a mess, opaque in its argument and tiring in its effortful weirdness, and yet in its best moments has a hypnotic pull.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for effortful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effortful
Adjective
-
When Thomson went through a difficult divorce, in 2014, Djena would often check in on her, showing up at her door with food.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
Crow-Armstrong had just failed to make a highly difficult, leaping catch at the wall.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
18 May 2026
Adjective
-
Figuring out how to animate them was challenging.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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With more than 7,300 yards of play, this challenging course also allows shorter three- or six-hole loops, perfect for golf vacations with kids who may not be up for an entire 18-hole round.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Students reportedly balanced rigorous courses and activities Many of the students took difficult classes such as AP Physics, AP Economics and multivariable calculus while also participating in clubs, sports and community organizations.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The report goes on to say separate academies for immigrant and refugee students can deny them access to rigorous coursework and diverse elective options, and can hinder their academic process and social integration.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Inspired by their connection, Étienne contemplates exchanging his lonely existence for one filled with romance, but with a demanding route to cover, starring in a great love story may not be in the cards for the hard-working road warrior.—
Elaina Patton,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
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Paro International Airport in Bhutan is one of the world’s most technically demanding, with only about 50 certified pilots navigating its mountainous approach.—
Chris Dong,
Travel + Leisure,
12 May 2026
Adjective
-
The most common reasons cited for detransition were pressure from a parent, harassment or discrimination, and that transitioning was too hard.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
-
Incredibly forgettable and hard to get through.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Effortful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effortful. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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