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 California Board of Pharmacy in 2025 reversed course on regulations that would have made the supplement more difficult to acquire after pushback from some firefighters.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Striking out on her own was a difficult transition, but embracing her solitude gave her the space to learn more about herself and make her own personal decisions, such as getting her cat or making meals of her choosing.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Sharing her new life on social media helped give Hoadley a sense of empowerment despite her challenging circumstances.
    — Amen Galinato, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter Carson McCullers’ remarkable debut novel tells a story of the American South, one set in Georgia and peopled with a cast of characters that exist in a rich, layered, and challenging reality.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Building trust requires a strong data foundation, rigorous quality standards and clear visibility into how insights are generated.
    — David Tobias, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Every personal finance product review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of mortgage products.
    — Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of rigorous
Adjective
  • With men on first and third and nobody out that inning, second baseman Jackson Holliday fielded a tough grounder and threw to second, but shortstop Gunnar Henderson dropped the ball for an error and everyone was safe.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • As for footwear sales in the region, the second quarter saw a slowdown of sales of high-heat product, alongside tougher comparatives and ongoing softness in end-of-cycle footwear product lines.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of tough
Adjective
  • These quick tests reveal fine detail, dimensional accuracy, and whether the printer is over- or under-exposed, providing a consistent baseline before evaluating more demanding real-world prints.
    — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The squad underwent intensive work in Portugal, where players generally had one long, demanding morning session, before being given time to recover, often with yoga and massages.
    — Paul Taylor, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of demanding
Adjective
  • Sunday’s game was the first time since Cunningham was taken down by the Sky’s DiJonai Carrington on a hard foul on a fast break earlier this month.
    — Jay Cohen, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Other majors, such as engineering, with its extensive math requirements, have been harder to shrink.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Aug. 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 25 Aug. 2026.

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