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View synonyms for

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:

    Antonyms:

  2. hard to understand or solve:

    a difficult problem.

    Synonyms: , ,

    Antonyms:

  3. hard to deal with or get on with:

    a difficult pupil.

  4. hard to please or satisfy:

    a difficult employer.

    Synonyms: , ,

  5. hard to persuade or induce; stubborn:

    a difficult old man.

    Synonyms: ,

  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

/ ˈɪɪə /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ徱ڴھܱٱ, adverb
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Other Word Forms

  • 徱f·ܱl adverb
  • ԴDz·徱f·ܱ adjective
  • ܲȴ-徱f·ܱ adjective
  • quasi-徱f·ܱl adverb
  • p·徱f·ܱ adjective
  • super·徱f·ܱl adverb
  • ܲ·徱f·ܱ adjective
  • un·徱f·ܱl adverb
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Word History and Origins

Origin of difficult1

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

Origin of difficult1

C14: back formation from difficulty
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Synonym Study

See hard.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Those characteristics may be undercut by uncertainty over corporate support, making it difficult to aggressively cover the Trump White House.

From

She also displayed an "extreme cry" that was "very difficult to soothe".

From

The Englishman is the favourite against the smaller Benn as a regular middleweight, but says he underwent a difficult weight cut.

From

"It's very difficult to explain the pressure unless you've been through it. I thought about suicide all the time: "Is my insurance up to date?

From

"One thing I always admired about him – though did not always agree with at first – was that he didn't run away from difficult things," said Archbishop Gallagher.

From

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