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

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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

Others cautioned that having ties to Platner will only doom an already uphill campaign against Collins. — ABC News, 7 July 2026 The fire, which began near the 1900 block of North Claremont Drive, quickly spread Monday afternoon after winds took the flames uphill. — Emily Carmela Nelson, Idaho Statesman, 7 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

Her protectiveness of the island stretches back years, in part because Nantucket saved her, in a way, during a difficult time in her life.

— Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 11 July 2026
In the book, Hollis asks Gigi to stay after a difficult conversation about the affair.

— Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026

Definition of difficult

Noun

Many who rely on copper-wire landlines live in remote rural areas, but some also live in the hills and canyons of major metro areas like Los Angeles, where cell and internet service is patchy and the risk of natural disasters is high.

— Jenny Jarvie Follow, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Farther afield are El Panecillo, a hill topped by a towering Virgin Mary statue, and the Middle of the World complex, which celebrates Quito’s equatorial location.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026

Definition of hill

Adjective

These renovations have made Bliss Matcha & Beyond’s move less challenging, according to Gorski.

— Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026
Ahead of a challenging midterm election, Republicans have seized an opportunity to castigate their opponents as extremists after democratic socialists won recent Democratic congressional primaries in New York and Colorado.

— Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026

Definition of challenging

Noun

The riverfront includes steep inclines, large rocks and uneven ground that can be difficult for workers or machinery to manage safely.

— Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026
Temperatures will be on the incline, reaching into the 90s by lunchtime and the upper 90s by the late afternoon.

— Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 28 June 2026

Definition of incline

Adjective

The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.

— Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.

— ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

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.

— Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
That’s hard to imagine of a president who uses the office to promote and prosper from his own brand name.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Any new toll roads would have to make practical sense and survive rigorous feasibility studies.

— Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026
Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.

— Liz Knueven, CNBC, 10 July 2026

Definition of rigorous

Adjective

Cooper Hoffman and David Jonsson star as two young men who sign up for a physically demanding and deathly competition led by Mark Hamill’s Major.

— Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 10 July 2026
The leading Chinese models still trail the frontier on the most demanding reasoning work, a gap this publication walked through when DeepSeek cut prices in April.

— Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Definition of demanding

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upheld

uphill

uphills

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Style

“Uphill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphill. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of uphill

adjective

noun

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