difficult

[ dif-i-kuhlt, -kuhlt ]

adjective

1. not easily or readily done; requiring much labor, skill, or planning to be performed successfully; hard:

   a difficult job.

   Synonyms: arduous

   Antonyms: easy

2. hard to understand or solve:

   a difficult problem.

   Synonyms: knotty, involved, intricate

   Antonyms: simple

3. hard to deal with or get on with:

   a difficult pupil.

4. hard to please or satisfy:

   a difficult employer.

   Synonyms: fussy, finical, particular

5. hard to persuade or induce; stubborn:

   a difficult old man.

   Synonyms: uncompromising, obdurate

6. disadvantageous; trying; hampering:

   The operation was performed under the most difficult conditions.

7. fraught with hardship, especially financial hardship:

   We saw some difficult times during the depression years.

difficult

/ ˈdɪfɪkəlt /

adjective

1. not easy to do; requiring effort

   a difficult job

2. not easy to understand or solve; intricate

   a difficult problem

3. hard to deal with; troublesome

   a difficult child

4. not easily convinced, pleased, or satisfied

   a difficult audience

5. full of hardships or trials

   difficult times ahead

Derived Forms

• ˈdifficultly, adverb

Other Words From

• diffi·cultly adverb
• non·diffi·cult adjective
• quasi-diffi·cult adjective
• quasi-diffi·cultly adverb
• super·diffi·cult adjective
• super·diffi·cultly adverb
• un·diffi·cult adjective
• un·diffi·cultly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of difficult¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, back formation from difficulty ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of difficult¹

C14: back formation from difficulty

Synonym Study

See hard.

Example Sentences

The exact impact of these tariffs is hard to discern, considering that the full effects can take years to settle in and the inflationary impact of the pandemic makes it difficult to draw straight lines.

From Salon

Before the screening, Rachel Mason, a close friend of Hutchins who filmed a documentary about the making of Rust, recalled how difficult it was to complete the movie with all the controversy surrounding it.

From BBC

Breathing patterns and emotional state are difficult to untangle -- if anxiety increases or decreases, so does the breathing rate.

From Science Daily

However, separating sEVs from other molecules and identifying the factors which lead to their release is both difficult and time-consuming with conventional methods.

From Science Daily

The demographic change made it difficult for older people to live in Senboku-NT as neighborhood shops closed one after another, leaving frail older adults unable to maintain their daily life within walking distance.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• ambitious
• arduous
• burdensome
• challenging
• crucial
• demanding
• laborious
• onerous
• painful
• problematic
• severe
• strenuous
• tough
• troublesome