UPHILL Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

uphill 1 of 2

adjective

ˈəp-ˌhil

Definition of uphill

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort an uphill battle to eradicate poverty in an area of the state that has never known anything else

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

uphill

2 of 2

noun

ˈəp-ˌhil

as in hill

an upward slope no matter where you go bicycle touring, the uphills always seem to outnumber the downhills

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 uphill

Adjective

Long hitters may be tempted to attack the green in two, but the uphill second shot played to a partially obscured putting surface—demands both precision and exceptional ball-striking. — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The stage again featured the hugely popular uphill climb through the Montmartre district, a sharp 1-kilometer dash which riders tackle three times before finishing on the Champs-Élysées. — ABC News, 26 July 2026

Noun

This also means that the jacket is lightweight enough to stash on the uphill and warm enough to offer protection on the ski down. — Outside, 28 Feb. 2026 The Chiefs’ run over the last decade was akin to moving a boulder uphill. — Sam McDowell 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uphill

Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphill

Adjective

Establishing that sense of familiarity requires time spent playing and training together, something made more difficult by a constant carousel of new signings.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Nugraha said difficult terrain has complicated efforts, with some hotspots located on steep volcanic slopes that are difficult to reach by land.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Noun

As the light dips behind the hills and Chianti’s color palette softens, life beyond the estate starts to feel quite distant.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Visitors wander at their own pace in search of enormous trolls hidden among the trees, along the riverbank, and across gentle hills.

— Lisa Greissinger, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of hill

Adjective

Enforcing the new ordinance is not as challenging as critics charge, Boone said.

— Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 8 Aug. 2026
In Tony, Bourdain not only flees to Provincetown to follow Nancy, but also to escape his challenging relationship with his parents, Gladys and Pierre Bourdain.

— Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenging

Noun

Bert McCarty, a Clemson University professor of turfgrass science and management, said golfers like how top courses are so different — from incorporating the ocean in places near beaches to relying on inclines in the mountains.

— ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
Then, roughly a mile into the trek, the electric assist on Peoples’ mountain wheelchair suddenly stopped working, leaving her to power the remaining miles using only her arms on every incline.

— Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

Definition of incline

Adjective

That left the debtor having to prove the negative that the debtor really didn't have any way to re-establish control over trust assets, and such was (and still is) a very tough sell.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Lombard also helped turn a double play in the second inning and handled another tough one-hopper hit by Cesar Prieto in the seventh.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Certainly Larimore is pointing out that hard times lead to hard truths and hard decisions.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
Perseus Rising in the northeast after dark, Perseus is not the easiest constellation to make sense of, but its rich star fields are hard to miss.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Audit Before You Affirm (or Reject) Before issuing a public statement, conduct a rigorous internal review across all seven areas.

— David Rosowsky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
In fact, there is no federal law against providing medical care for transgender adolescents according to the rigorous standards of care.

— Kaitlin McCallum, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

By automating repetitive, physically demanding and highly variable tasks, intelligent robotics allows experienced people to focus on the work where their judgment and expertise create the greatest value.

— Ariyan Kabir, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026
However, rather than viewing the demanding conditions as a disadvantage, Simmons believes the heat can become an advantage for the Panthers.

— Alejandro Hernandez, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of demanding

Browse Nearby Words

upheld

uphill

uphills

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Uphill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphill. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of uphill

adjective

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on uphill

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

baptism of fire

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes