1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
climbing Mount Everest is an arduous, exhausting challenge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
the arduous task of doing the research for my term paper
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of arduous
The process is arduous, spanning days or weeks of boiling and soaking in syrup, but when sugar properly penetrates fruit’s cellular structure, not only does the appearance become almost incandescent, but the microbes that cause spoilage can’t survive.
—
Hannah Walhout, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
Pleasing them all can be arduous.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Until, that is, the wind shifted — turning what should have been a 10-hour trip into a far more arduous journey.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Physical rehabilitation can be a difficult and arduous process.
—William Jones, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arduous
Hannah Walhout, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 Feb. 2026
Pleasing them all can be arduous.
—Literary Hub, 2 Feb. 2026
Until, that is, the wind shifted — turning what should have been a 10-hour trip into a far more arduous journey.
—Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 31 Jan. 2026
Physical rehabilitation can be a difficult and arduous process.
—William Jones, jsonline.com, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for arduous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for arduous
Adjective
-
Training and case management through FRAP is supposed to help attorneys deal with what Clegg calls a difficult area of law.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Will this race and the other changes create an opportunity for NASCAR to turn the page on its difficult 2025?—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
There are more advanced, and challenging techniques, like slicing or chipping for more bulbs.—
Clarence Schmidt,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
This is not complicated or challenging music, and at times the chord progressions are simple enough to make one yearn for a bit more spikiness.—
Daniel Bromfield,
Pitchfork,
11 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Most importantly, Alvarado relishes in his role as a tough-nosed, point-of-attack defender, an area the Knicks have had trouble despite building a roster with notable defenders across all positions.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
With a durable and tough rubber sole featuring Vibram's TC5+ technology, each step offers the right amount of flex and resistance for a comfortable hiking experience.—
Michael Cappetta,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The truth is, managing a game and operating within a system of offense are two of the most important things about excelling at the most demanding position in professional sports.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
Turns out, von Allmen had the better inside track on the demanding hill.—
Pat Graham,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
These athletes spend their lives focusing on building physical strength through rigorous training and diets that are honed to provide the nutrients necessary to excel at their sport.—
Emily Hemendinger,
The Conversation,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Every mortgage article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products.—
Kelsey Neubauer,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The basic things — paying the electric bill, going to the doctor, keeping a roof over your head — get more expensive every day, while wages stay rock-bottom and jobs get harder and harder to find.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Temperatures in many parts of Texas remained below freezing for days, compounding stress on power plants, natural gas facilities, water systems and homes built for heat, not hard freezes.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Houston Chronicle,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Arduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arduous. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
