1
as in hardship
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 complexity
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 objection
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 controversy
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 difficulty
Frustration station The 11 members of Park Forest’s Civic Leadership Academy got an earful and then some last Friday from two members of the state legislature who discussed the difficulties of getting anything done in Springfield.
—
Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
However, this is an almost perfect day to patch up difficulties with family members.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Neurodiverse kids—including those with issues ranging from autism to ADHD, both of which can lead to difficulty regulating emotions—might have more trouble learning emotional regulation skills, and may require accommodations from adults both at home and at school.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
Your friends may be experiencing financial difficulty.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
However, this is an almost perfect day to patch up difficulties with family members.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 9 Mar. 2026
Neurodiverse kids—including those with issues ranging from autism to ADHD, both of which can lead to difficulty regulating emotions—might have more trouble learning emotional regulation skills, and may require accommodations from adults both at home and at school.
—Taylor Grothe, Parents, 9 Mar. 2026
Your friends may be experiencing financial difficulty.
—Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulty
Noun
-
Fame does not protect against hardship, and talent does not guarantee stability.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The first five of the district’s 16 financial hardship applications were approved by the state board in February, Keeley said.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Imaging, detection, and environmental monitoring tools The technology is particularly important for situational awareness in environments where human monitoring alone is insufficient due to scale, complexity, or safety risks.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
-
There are also daily lectures from guides on everything from the secret lives of plants to the complexity of Amazonian fish species.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The lawsuit claims jailers forced her to remove the covering despite her religious objections.—
Daniel Wilkerson,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Eighteen-year-olds are adults and can request euthanasia even over family objections.—
Charles Lane,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Khimberly’s death brings additional scrutiny to LAUSD at a time when the district is already entangled in other controversies.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Regardless of the controversy, related technologies are rapidly entering industrial deployment.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Doctors discovered an 11-cm mass in Mansi's abdomen — complications from a previously undetected ovarian cyst — sending the actress into a panic.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Mar. 2026
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Her medical team will meet with her in honor of World Kidney Day after Sammartano experienced complications during her first pregnancy.—
Alexa Herrera,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
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But Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie are the exceptions after literally going from unknowns to household names in, like, a week.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
16 Mar. 2026
-
One of the exceptions provided that when the professional determined that there was a probability that his patient would injure himself or others, the professional was allowed to disclose the information to medical, mental health or law enforcement personnel.—
Virginia Hammerle,
Dallas Morning News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
What will become of this nursery in the wild in the next hundred years, or thousand, is the crux of a scientific and policy dispute.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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In the video, a group of young teens appeared to be in a verbal dispute before a physical altercation quickly escalated between two girls.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The default ruling means that Rourke failed to take action to defend against the eviction complaint within the time allowed by law.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The complaint requested that the judge find the administration’s policy violates the First and Fifth Amendments and bar it from being implemented.—
BrieAnna J. Frank,
USA Today,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulty. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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