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
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
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
See All Example Sentences for effortful
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
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
See All Example Sentences for effortful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effortful
Adjective
-
That was so tragic, so difficult for Prince William and Prince Harry which has stayed with them.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
Every business leader waiting for a difficult market to come around should pay attention to what happened in Seoul.—
Bill Schiffmiller,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
The most challenging decision of the day might be selecting a picnic spot or which lagoon to snorkel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
What Destin and Andrew have is a mandate to deliver to the audience something utterly unique, utterly endearing, quite challenging, and intelligent.—
Ben Kingsley,
IndieWire,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
Every small business article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of small business products.—
Jasmin Suknanan,
CNBC,
29 May 2026
-
The campaign was the work of Claude Hopkins, an advertising executive with a passion for rigorous testing and measurable results.—
Julia Dhar,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
More recent air quality news Major automakers are urging the EPA to delay tougher vehicle pollution standards for two years.—
Tony Briscoe,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
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In a tough economy for local breweries, Clairvoyant has found a way to keep its heart beating.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
In a July interview, Bell said sake is brewed like beer, not distilled like spirits, noting the process is more demanding and delicate -- and to make the best sake, top-notch ingredients are required.—
John Magsam,
Arkansas Online,
2 June 2026
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Granted, at nearly three hours in length, the film is also incredibly demanding — especially its initial half, which, by its nature, becomes a recursive cycle of directionless youth that Rimbaud struggles to break.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Getting warships into the water is hard enough without wasting funds on vessels unlikely ever to sail.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
Hulst setting a hard pace from the gun with Serna trying to hold on long enough to outkick him in the end.—
Scott M. Reid,
Oc Register,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Effortful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effortful. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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