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

According to Florida’s law, it remains a felony to perform or actively participate in an abortion six weeks after gestation, with limited exceptions that are designed to be difficult to use and frequently act as another burden for patients to overcome.

From Salon

Prof David Maguire, the vice chancellor, says “difficult decisions” have led to a 20% reduction in the number of courses, increased lecture group sizes, less one-to-one contact between academics and students, and fewer staff in student support including in mental health and counselling.

From BBC

Providing the help that homeless people need is a difficult, long and expensive task, and residents clearly still believe in that mission.

From Los Angeles Times

It may also help more people avoid having an eviction on their record, which can make it difficult to secure new housing.

From Los Angeles Times

That’s why, he thought, the immigration fight had to be taken up inside the conservation movement itself, by what is viewed as America’s most prominent environmental organization, an organization that would have the moral authority to bring difficult messages to the public.

From Salon

Related Words

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