Difficult — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt/ dif·fi·cult

Meaning & Definition of Difficult

Difficult (adjective)

  1. hard to do, make, or carry out, arduous
  2. hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
  3. hard to understand, puzzling

Difficult (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. requiring considerable physical or mental effort

    "difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking"

    similar: arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling, hard, heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rigorous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, tall, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill
    related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic, recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky, bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying, annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious, grievous, grim, strict, stringent, brutal, cruel, inhuman, painful
    opposite: cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding
    near: achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated, comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing, accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly

  2. 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"

    similar: catchy, delicate, dodgy (chiefly British), hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic, sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksy, tricky
    related: abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious, problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome, burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressful
    near: easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Difficult

The most common words with a similar meaning to Difficult:

Chiefly British: dodgy
arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling, hard, heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rigorous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, tall, testing, toilsome, tough, uphill, catchy, delicate, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic, sensitive, spiny, sticky

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Difficult

Words with the opposite meaning of Difficult:

cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple, soft, undemanding

Related Words for Difficult

abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, insoluble, intricate, involved, opaque, recondite, serious, stubborn, bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying, annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious, grievous, grim

Near Antonyms of Difficult

achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated, comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing, accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly, straightforward, unproblematic

Word Forms of Difficult

Derived words: difficultly (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Difficult

Middle English, probably back-formation from difficulte difficulty

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Difficult

Frequently Asked Questions about Difficult

What does "Difficult" mean?

"Difficult" means hard to do, make, or carry out, arduous. As an adjective, it is defined as: hard to do, make, or carry out, arduous. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Difficult"?

Other words for "Difficult" include arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, effortful, exacting and formidable. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Difficult" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Difficult"?

There are 90 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Difficult". Common alternatives include arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling and hard.

What is the opposite of "Difficult"?

Antonyms of "Difficult" include cheap, easy, effortless, facile, light, mindless, simple and soft. Near antonyms include achievable, clear, doable and elementary.

How do you use "Difficult" in a sentence?

Examples of "Difficult" in a sentence: "difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking"; "it's a difficult situation when two of your friends are quarreling and you're trying to stay out of it".

Is "Difficult" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Difficult" is an adjective.

Is "Difficult" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Difficult" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Difficult"?

"Difficult" is pronounced /ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt/ and divided into syllables as dif·fi·cult.