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Definitions

uphill

[uhp-hil, uhp-hil] / ˈʌpˈhɪl, ˈʌpˌhɪl /
ADJECTIVE
going up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
skyward
STRONG
ascending climbing mounting rising uprising
WEAK
acclivous sloping upward toward summit up
Antonyms
WEAK
downhill easy facile
ADJECTIVE
difficult, laborious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arduous exhausting grueling punishing strenuous
STRONG
tough
WEAK
effortful hard labored operose rugged taxing toilsome wearisome
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy effortless facile
WEAK
downhill

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

While winning that case would be uphill sledding, the report may have ultimately been a useful development for him.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

Talks face an uphill battle in resolving the vast differences in the warring sides' positions.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Chelsea faced an uphill task against defending champions Paris St-Germain and were made to suffer with an 8-2 aggregate defeat.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

But executive recruiters say Mason’s move to jump ship and get a simultaneous promotion to CEO—known as a “double switch”—might prove an uphill battle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

The short man stepped toward her, and Emily instinctively took another uphill step back.

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Vocabulary lists containing uphill

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