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hard to explain

ADJECTIVE
difficult
Synonyms
STRONGEST
complex confusing delicate troublesome
WEAK
abstract abstruse baffling bewildering confounding dark deep enigmatic enigmatical entangled esoteric formidable 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

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.

Shiffrin has won seven of this term's World Cup slalom races and finished just 0.14sec behind winner Camille Rast in Kranjska Gora, so her dismal display in the team combined was hard to explain.

From Barron's • Feb. 17, 2026

Still, it is hard to explain the ferocity with which the administration has attacked Powell any other way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 12, 2026

But when the railroad was hard to explain, the travelers were few.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 28, 2025

"It can come across as if I'm being difficult and dramatic, but it's hard to explain unless you've experienced it."

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

They'll put me in Dauntless, at first, because I already have tattoos, and that would be hard to explain to the people inside the experiment.

From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth