difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt 
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
a difficult child
having a difficult time coping with her death
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
found calculus too difficult
difficultly adverb
Synonyms
- arduous
- Augean
- backbreaking
- challenging
- demanding
- effortful
- exacting
- formidable
- grueling
- gruelling
- hard
- heavy
- hellacious
- herculean
- killer
- laborious
- moiling
- murderous
- pick-and-shovel
- rigorous
- rough
- rugged
- severe
- stiff
- strenuous
- sweaty
- tall
- testing
- toilsome
- tough
- uphill
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
We were asked lots of difficult questions. I had to make a very difficult decision. We'll be hiking over difficult terrain. It's more difficult than it sounds. I found myself in a difficult position. Some difficult days lie ahead of us. These changes will make life difficult for everyone involved. See More
Recent Examples on the Web Thawing them can be difficult without the right paperwork. 
Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 Thawing them can be difficult without the right paperwork. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 Considering all those factors and ultimately making a ruling on DNRs can be difficult for judges, Marques said. Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2022 Thawing them can be difficult without the right paperwork. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2022 In San Diego, there is a replica of a 19th-century kitchen garden representing a time when there was no refrigeration, road systems were poor, and traveling to obtain fresh produce was difficult. Helen Purcell Montag, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 Uncertainties have persisted for so long because proving that anything is driven by the body’s internal clock is difficult and requires a grueling study design. WIRED, 9 Sep. 2022 Doing so has been difficult this week, with Baltimore dropping four of its past five games, including three of four to a Toronto Blue Jays team it’s chasing for the American League’s final wild-card spot. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 9 Sep. 2022 Drawing broad conclusions about ancient societies from a small number of bones and archaeological sites is difficult, the authors of the new paper acknowledged. Dominique Mosbergen, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 See More
Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022 Thawing them can be difficult without the right paperwork. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 11 Sep. 2022 Considering all those factors and ultimately making a ruling on DNRs can be difficult for judges, Marques said. Monivette Cordeiro, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2022 Thawing them can be difficult without the right paperwork. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 11 Sep. 2022 In San Diego, there is a replica of a 19th-century kitchen garden representing a time when there was no refrigeration, road systems were poor, and traveling to obtain fresh produce was difficult. Helen Purcell Montag, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2022 Uncertainties have persisted for so long because proving that anything is driven by the body’s internal clock is difficult and requires a grueling study design. WIRED, 9 Sep. 2022 Doing so has been difficult this week, with Baltimore dropping four of its past five games, including three of four to a Toronto Blue Jays team it’s chasing for the American League’s final wild-card spot. Nathan Ruiz, Baltimore Sun, 9 Sep. 2022 Drawing broad conclusions about ancient societies from a small number of bones and archaeological sites is difficult, the authors of the new paper acknowledged. Dominique Mosbergen, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, probably back-formation from difficulte difficulty
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult ˈdi-fi-ˌkəlt
1
: not easy : hard to do or make
a difficult job
2
: hard to deal with
difficult circumstances
a difficult child
3
: hard to understand
a difficult subject
difficult
adjective
1
as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- challenging
- tough
- hard
- demanding
- rigorous
- complicated
- formidable
- heavy
- rough
- effortful
- arduous
- testing
- exhausting
- rugged
- painful
- strenuous
- severe
- laborious
- tall
- uphill
- complex
- grueling
- sweaty
- intricate
- herculean
- problematic
- backbreaking
- exacting
- toilsome
- tricky
- serious
- trying
- murderous
- killer
- stiff
- involved
- annoying
- gruelling
- elusive
- stressful
- hellacious
- troublesome
- problematical
- grim
- stubborn
- brutal
- moiling
- tight
- onerous
- burdensome
- thorny
- pick-and-shovel
- abstract
- taxing
- oppressive
- abstruse
- irksome
- labored
- opaque
- bruising
- insoluble
- bothersome
- recondite
- ticklish
- hairy
- knotty
- Augean
- strict
- vexatious
- spiny
- distressing
- cruel
- stringent
- grievous
- inhuman
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- simple
- light
- effortless
- soft
- cheap
- clear
- undemanding
- doable
- facile
- uncomplicated
- achievable
- elementary
- mindless
- smooth
- manageable
- comforting
- gentle
- painless
- soothing
- relaxed
- accessible
- friendly
- idiotproof
- user-friendly
2
as in tough
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling it's a difficult situation when two of your friends are quarreling and you're trying to stay out of it Synonyms & Similar Words
- tough
- problematic
- sensitive
- complicated
- tricky
- hard
- problematical
- problem
- sticky
- delicate
- complex
- painful
- thorny
- touchy
- serious
- nasty
- ticklish
- tricksy
- knotty
- hairy
- dodgy
- catchy
- spiny
- troublesome
- prickly
- involved
- intricate
- vexing
- abstruse
- stressful
- abstract
- inconvenient
- stubborn
- worrisome
- recondite
- onerous
- exhausting
- demanding
- vexatious
- burdensome
- troublous
- oppressive
- exacting
- scabrous
- importunate
- discommoding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- easy
- simple
- straightforward
- uncomplicated
- effortless
- unproblematic
- painless
- undemanding
- manageable
Synonym Chooser
The words arduous and hard are common synonyms of difficult. While all three words mean "demanding great exertion or effort," difficult implies the presence of obstacles to be surmounted or puzzles to be resolved and suggests the need of skill or courage.
the difficult ascent of the mountain
While in some cases nearly identical to difficult, arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.
the arduous task of rebuilding
In some situations, the words hard and difficult are roughly equivalent. However, hard implies the opposite of all that is easy.
farming is hard work