1
as in hardships
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal
the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complications
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult
there was a minor difficulty when we realized that the store had already closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in objections
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
the only difficulty I have with the dress is its color—does it come in anything besides purple?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in controversies
variance of opinion on a matter
the theologian's ongoing difficulties with the Vatican
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficulties
Those dates were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later canceled following Dion's 2022 diagnosis of stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological disorder that includes rigidity and stiffness of certain areas of the body, causing unsteadiness, slower movements and difficulties walking.
—
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Robust spending from wealthier Americans balances out the financial difficulties of lower-income households, preventing the broader economy from entering a recession.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Babies who survive may experience breathing and feeding difficulties, cerebral palsy, developmental delays and vision or hearing problems.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Whatever happens or doesn’t happen, a lot of good is coming right behind the difficulties.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls has been serving all day breakfast, comfort food and pies since 1929 — a remarkable feat, given all the difficulties restaurants face.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Despite these difficulties, the palm-sized drone was able to navigate autonomously, with enough battery power for about five minutes per flight.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026
Such a unit is staffed by nurses and others who treat severe infections, breathing difficulties, traumatic injuries, or recovery from major surgeries.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Boydston has two children who don’t currently attend Center schools due to difficulties with getting access to more rigorous classes.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Robust spending from wealthier Americans balances out the financial difficulties of lower-income households, preventing the broader economy from entering a recession.
—David Goldman, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
Babies who survive may experience breathing and feeding difficulties, cerebral palsy, developmental delays and vision or hearing problems.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Whatever happens or doesn’t happen, a lot of good is coming right behind the difficulties.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 29 Mar. 2026
Blue Bonnet Cafe in Marble Falls has been serving all day breakfast, comfort food and pies since 1929 — a remarkable feat, given all the difficulties restaurants face.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
Despite these difficulties, the palm-sized drone was able to navigate autonomously, with enough battery power for about five minutes per flight.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 Mar. 2026
Such a unit is staffed by nurses and others who treat severe infections, breathing difficulties, traumatic injuries, or recovery from major surgeries.
—Pat Maio, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026
Boydston has two children who don’t currently attend Center schools due to difficulties with getting access to more rigorous classes.
—Kansas City Star, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulties
Noun
-
Minnesota's theatre scene says financial hardships are at an all-time high.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Low-income seniors or those going through financial hardships due to a serious medical illness may qualify.—
Kat Tretina,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The bill, which does not mention PMPS by name, covers complications including chronic pain.—
Brett Kelman,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Part of that planning includes working through real-world complications, such as major construction projects that impact affect evacuations.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Vulnerable, voiceless elders in Miami-Dade who are removed from their homes for their own good will likely wind up in the hands of an Adult Protective Services supervisor promoted to a position of unparalleled power despite the objections of family members and whistleblowing colleagues.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
More importantly, these objections assume a permanent ideological shift.—
Ravi Kumar S,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The musician further stressed that this was a creative choice, rather than anything related to the countless controversies Ye has embroiled himself in these past few years (and is ostensibly trying to move past).—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Athlete Caster Semenya, who has been at the center of many controversies due to her naturally high testosterone level, is calling for others to speak up, including Olympic governing bodies in Africa.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Valladares saluted the farmworker movement but also said the labor movement brought its own social complexities.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Employers and school leaders have rightly wised up to the dangers and complexities of winter weather driving, especially after 2014’s Snowmageddon debacle.—
Doug Turnbull,
AJC.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
As of April 18, 2026, a total of 11 states will ban the use of credit checks in employment decisions as New York joins 10 other states and several jurisdictions, including Philadelphia and Chicago, that prohibit the practice, with some exceptions.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The lone exceptions are the two ModSquad senators from Michigan, Peters and Elissa Slotkin, who remain neutral.—
Ramsey Touchberry,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Each lawsuit was a settlement, meaning the city did not lose a lawsuit but instead chose to pay the plaintiff to end litigation and resolve the disputes out of court.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Together with its licensing, rulemaking, and market oversight responsibilities, these enforcement tools help maintain standards within the brokerage industry and provide investors with mechanisms for addressing disputes.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Despite numerous complaints to health inspectors from elderly people that Salmos 23 left them wanting the most basic necessities — like toilet paper — DCF chose it as a refuge over hundreds of other homes.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Deed theft is essentially when someone steals a house, often forging the paperwork, and data obtained by CBS News New York shows a 240% increase in complaints to the New York Attorney General's Office from 2023 to 2025.—
Tim McNicholas,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Difficulties.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulties. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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