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Showing results for difficult. Search instead for difficulti.
Definitions

difficult

[dif-i-kuhlt, -kuhlt] / ˈdɪf ɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt /
ADJECTIVE
hard on someone; hard to do
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ambitious arduous burdensome challenging crucial demanding laborious onerous painful problematic severe strenuous tough troublesome
WEAK
backbreaker bothersome difficile easier said than done effortful exacting formidable galling gargantuan hard-won heavy herculean immense intricate irritating labored no picnic not easy operose problem prohibitive rigid stiff titanic toilsome trying unyielding uphill upstream wearisome
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy effortless facile helpful nice trivial
WEAK
calm free friendly manageable plain simple sociable straightforward uncomplicated
ADJECTIVE
complicated; hard to comprehend
Synonyms
STRONGEST
complex confusing delicate troublesome
WEAK
abstract abstruse baffling bewildering confounding dark deep enigmatic enigmatical entangled esoteric formidable hard to explain hard to solve hidden inexplicable intricate involved knotty labyrinthine loose meandering mysterious mystical mystifying nice obscure obstinate paradoxical perplexing problematical profound puzzling rambling subtle tangled thorny ticklish unclear unfathomable unintelligible vexing
Antonyms
STRONGEST
clear easy
WEAK
calm free friendly manageable plain simple sociable straightforward uncomplicated
ADJECTIVE
unmanageable socially
Synonyms
STRONGEST
demanding grim intractable tough troublesome
WEAK
argumentative bearish boorish dark fastidious finicky fractious fussy hard to please impolite irritable oafish obstreperous perverse picky refractory rigid rude tiresome trying unaccommodating unamenable
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy facile nice
WEAK
calm free friendly manageable plain simple sociable straightforward uncomplicated

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.

Another is that waves of airstrikes took out numerous senior Iranian officials and government-communication infrastructure, making it difficult for the U.S. to determine which Iranians to negotiate with and how to reach them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

However, different theories predict different types of fluctuations, which has made it difficult for experimental scientists to know exactly what signals to search for.

From Science Daily • Apr. 6, 2026

Vetting a tax expert can also be difficult.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 6, 2026

“She was working in a far more difficult time for so many of us. The moral clarity of her art — and her bravery — are so powerful.”

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

Because if I’m perfectly honest, which is sometimes difficult to be, I have to admit that the posters in the station concern me.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.