more difficult

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.

Saving and planning are keys to a successful retirement, but amassing more savings is getting more difficult as Americans are struggling with rising costs of everyday basics like groceries, gas, healthcare and housing.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Timbre has been far more difficult to study because it involves higher level sensory interpretation and emotional response.

From Science Daily • May 28, 2026

The global nature of tennis means constant international travel, and for players coming from more remote areas, funding flights is even more difficult.

From BBC • May 27, 2026

As the U.S. and Israel begin to diverge, America will increasingly find it more difficult to influence Israeli policy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

But of course that made it all the more difficult to spot a likely barn or shed where we could lie up for the day.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo