Synonyms of uphill

uphill 1 of 2

adjective

ˈəp-ˌhil 

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

• difficult
• challenging
• tough
• hard
• rigorous
• demanding
• formidable
• heavy
• strenuous
• complicated
• arduous
• rough
• rugged
• sweaty
• effortful
• tall
• exhausting
• grueling
• severe
• laborious
• painful
• backbreaking
• testing
• toilsome
• murderous
• herculean
• stiff
• killer
• complex
• intricate
• serious
• exacting
• hellacious
• pick-and-shovel
• problematic
• tricky
• annoying
• moiling
• stubborn
• elusive
• brutal
• bruising
• hairy
• involved
• stressful
• thorny
• oppressive
• grim
• Augean
• troublesome
• labored
• trying
• insoluble
• burdensome
• tight
• onerous
• abstract
• knotty
• abstruse
• ticklish
• spiny
• taxing
• irksome
• opaque
• bothersome
• recondite
• vexatious
• strict
• distressing
• cruel
• stringent
• grievous
• inhuman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• light
• simple
• soft
• effortless
• cheap
• elementary
• clear
• manageable
• undemanding
• facile
• doable
• achievable
• mindless
• uncomplicated
• smooth
• gentle
• painless
• soothing
• comforting
• relaxed
• accessible
• friendly
• user-friendly
• idiotproof

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

• hill
• incline
• ascent
• climb
• inclination
• gradient
• acclivity
• rise
• upgrade
• lean
• ridge
• diagonal
• uprise
• tilt
• pitch
• rake
• glacis
• cant
• grade
• swell
• hump
• mound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• downhill
• decline
• fall
• descent
• dip
• declivity
• hanging
• downgrade
• declension
• depression
• basin
• drop-off
• hollow
• hang

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of uphill

Adjective

The party in power already tends to face an uphill climb during midterms, and this year some GOP candidates have been forced to balance their loyalty to Trump with Americans’ disapproval of him. — Praveena Somasundaram, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026

With the loss, though, the Rams will be facing a particularly uphill climb for these two teams to play each other again this season. — Rohan Nadkarni, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026

Noun

But too often, getting change into a medical school curriculum is like pushing a stone uphill. — Dr. Marschall Runge, Forbes.com, 1 May 2026

The moment that will likely endure from Klæbo’s perfect Olympics happened on a brutal uphill during the sprint. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026