difficulty
noun
dif·fi·cul·ty
ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəl-tē 
plural difficulties
1
: the quality or state of being hard to do, deal with, or understand : the quality or state of being difficult
underestimated the difficulty of the task
couldn't breathe without difficulty
has difficulty reading
climbs stairs with difficulty
2
: something that is not easy to do or deal with
had to overcome many difficulties in life
having financial difficulties
3
: controversy, disagreement
unable to resolve their difficulties
4
: objection
made no difficulty in granting the request
Examples of difficulty in a Sentence
She underestimated the difficulty of saving so much money.
the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation
Recent Examples on the Web
In the condo market specifically, luxury units, which are often new construction, have not experienced the same difficulties as units in older buildings that are being forced to foot the bill for major repairs.
—
Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
Current transmission systems have difficulty managing these fluctuations over long distances because the flow of power cannot be controlled precisely.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 28 Dec. 2025
The difficulty of the burial was itself meaningful, reflecting a great degree of respect for elders and social standing within the community.
—New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2025
In episode 4 of Swift's new The End of an Era docuseries on Disney+, Swift opened up about the difficulty of maintaining relationships while on tour and how that all changed with Travis.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
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Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 29 Dec. 2025
Current transmission systems have difficulty managing these fluctuations over long distances because the flow of power cannot be controlled precisely.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 28 Dec. 2025
The difficulty of the burial was itself meaningful, reflecting a great degree of respect for elders and social standing within the community.
—New Atlas, 27 Dec. 2025
In episode 4 of Swift's new The End of an Era docuseries on Disney+, Swift opened up about the difficulty of maintaining relationships while on tour and how that all changed with Travis.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Cite this Entry
“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficulty. Accessed 31 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
difficulty
noun
dif·fi·cul·ty
ˈdif-ə-(ˌ)kəl-tē
plural difficulties
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