1
as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficult
Celebrity also transformed the ship’s former Lawn Club into Sunset Park, replacing difficult-to-maintain real grass with turf, expanded seating areas, umbrellas and casual dining offerings designed to encourage guests to linger longer outdoors.
—
Josh Rivera, USA Today, 17 May 2026
Several photographs were taken in exceptionally remote or difficult-to-access locations.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
How to balance the risk between the impacts of an autoimmune disease, which can range widely in severity, and the difficult-to-quantify risk of future side effects or cancers remains a major open question.
—Amber Dance, ArsTechnica, 17 May 2026
Pinning down the movement of a microscopic pathogen can be difficult.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Josh Rivera, USA Today, 17 May 2026
Several photographs were taken in exceptionally remote or difficult-to-access locations.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
How to balance the risk between the impacts of an autoimmune disease, which can range widely in severity, and the difficult-to-quantify risk of future side effects or cancers remains a major open question.
—Amber Dance, ArsTechnica, 17 May 2026
Pinning down the movement of a microscopic pathogen can be difficult.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
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Figuring out how to animate them was challenging.—
Marta Balaga,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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With more than 7,300 yards of play, this challenging course also allows shorter three- or six-hole loops, perfect for golf vacations with kids who may not be up for an entire 18-hole round.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
Adjective
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Each of those teams will be competing for playoff spots again, leaving the Raiders with no easy divisional wins and a tough out-of-division schedule.—
Sam Warren,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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The group did just enough against Sale and a tough Braves bullpen to avoid getting shut out for the third time in five games.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The most common reasons cited for detransition were pressure from a parent, harassment or discrimination, and that transitioning was too hard.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
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Incredibly forgettable and hard to get through.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Auditors typically treat unattributable privileged actions as accountability gaps, because the framework expects sensitive operations to trace back to an accountable individual rather than an autonomous system.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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In addition, some companies and governments may pair that with quantum key cryptography, particularly for highly sensitive information.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
17 May 2026
Adjective
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Students reportedly balanced rigorous courses and activities Many of the students took difficult classes such as AP Physics, AP Economics and multivariable calculus while also participating in clubs, sports and community organizations.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The report goes on to say separate academies for immigrant and refugee students can deny them access to rigorous coursework and diverse elective options, and can hinder their academic process and social integration.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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The pet trade has become somewhat problematic, Marchand said.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
18 May 2026
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What kind of developer puts his money into an indie documentary that might give his business-as-usual peers — not to mention investors, luxury condo buyers and other beneficiaries of Miami’s prolonged but problematic and plainly inequitable real-estate boom — a conniption?—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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Shooting in Japan, difficult underwater filming, and an extremely demanding post-production with editing, sound design and VFX.—
JD Linville,
Variety,
19 May 2026
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Blue-collar work tends to be more physically demanding and often risky.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
Adjective
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The Republican primary field is far more complicated.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
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This summer’s most unlikely wine trend does not involve a rare bottle or a complicated spritz.—
Noel Burgess,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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