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40+ Important Synonyms for DIFFICULT You Should Know

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Welcome to our article on synonyms for the word “difficult”. As a learner of English, you are likely to come across this word quite often. It is a common adjective that describes something that is not easy to do, understand, or solve. In this article, we will explore some alternative words that can be used to convey the same meaning as “difficult”.

Common Synonyms for Difficult

In this section, we will cover some common synonyms for the word “difficult.” These words can be used interchangeably with “difficult” in many contexts, and it’s important to have a good understanding of them to expand your vocabulary.

Synonyms for DIFFICULT

Challenging

“Challenging” is a great synonym for “difficult” because it conveys the idea of something that requires effort and skill to overcome. It’s often used in the context of tasks or problems that require a lot of mental or physical effort to complete.

  • For example, “The final exam was challenging because it required us to apply what we had learned over the course of the semester.”

Arduous

“Arduous” is another excellent synonym for “difficult” that emphasizes the idea of something being physically or mentally demanding. It’s often used in the context of tasks or activities that require a lot of endurance or perseverance to complete.

  • For example, “The hike up the mountain was arduous, but the view from the top was worth it.”
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Tough

“Tough” is a great synonym for “difficult” because it conveys the idea of something being hard to handle or deal with. It’s often used in the context of challenges or obstacles that require a lot of effort to overcome.

  • For example, “The job interview was tough because the interviewer asked a lot of challenging questions.”

Tricky

“Tricky” is a good synonym for “difficult” because it conveys the idea of something being complicated or hard to understand. It’s often used in the context of problems or situations that require a lot of thought or careful consideration to solve.

  • For example, “The puzzle was tricky because it had a lot of pieces that looked very similar.”

Complicated

“Complicated” is a great synonym for “difficult” because it conveys the idea of something being complex or difficult to understand. It’s often used in the context of tasks or problems that require a lot of analysis or careful consideration to solve.

  • For example, “The new software was complicated to use because it had so many different features and options.”

Synonyms for Difficult in Different Contexts

In English, there are many ways to describe something that is difficult. Depending on the context, the synonyms we use may vary. In this section, we will explore some of the synonyms for difficult in different contexts.

Academic Context

When it comes to academic contexts, we often use words that describe something that requires a lot of effort or is challenging. Here are some synonyms for difficult that are commonly used in academic settings:

  • Challenging
  • Demanding
  • Arduous
  • Rigorous
  • Formidable
  • Heavy
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Professional Context

In a professional context, we may use synonyms that convey a sense of complexity or difficulty in a particular task or job. Here are some synonyms for difficult that are commonly used in professional settings:

  • Complex
  • Complicated
  • Tricky
  • Daunting
  • Laborious
  • Tedious

Personal Context

In a personal context, we may use synonyms that convey a sense of struggle or hardship. Here are some synonyms for difficult that are commonly used in personal settings:

  • Trying
  • Tough
  • Hardship
  • Struggle
  • Adversity
  • Hardship

Emotional Context

In an emotional context, we may use synonyms that describe something that is emotionally challenging or causes distress. Here are some synonyms for difficult that are commonly used in emotional settings:

  • Painful
  • Heartbreaking
  • Distressing
  • Challenging
  • Overwhelming
  • Burdensome

List of Synonyms for DIFFICULT

The following is the list of useful Difficult Synonym:

Ambitious

  • He was an ambitious man with a strong personality

Arduous

  • She undertook the arduous task of monitoring the elections.

Burdensome

  • These charges are particularly burdensome for poor parents.

Challenging

  • Mike found a challenging job as a computer programmer.

Crucial

  • Barker’s testimony is crucial to the prosecution’s case.

Demanding

  • The people are demanding a chance to participate more in government.

Laborious

  • They had the laborious task of cutting down the huge tree.

Onerous

  • My household duties were not particularly onerous.

Painful

  • It was a painful and unpopular decision.

Problematic

  • The future of our business is problematic.

Severe

  • severe snowstorm blocked up railroads.

Strenuous

  • She made strenuous efforts to tame her anger.

Tough

  • It was a tough decision to make.

Troublesome

  • The country is passing through a troublesome time.
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Bothersome

  • I played with this the entire season and it was bothersome.

Easier said than done

  • Finding the perfect house was easier said than done.

Effortful

  • Your training has to be not only consistent but also effortful.

Exacting

  • She was an exacting woman to work for.

Formidable

  • In the debate, he was a formidable opponent.

Galling

  • It was galling to have to apologize to a man she hated.

Gargantuan

  • Of all her mistakes, this was the most gargantuan.

Hard-won

  • She doesn’t want to lose her hard-won independence.

Heavy

  • He has a heavy teaching load this year.

Herculean

  • She faces the herculean task of bringing up four children single-handedly.

Immense

  • The expense of living is immense.

Intricate

  • The prisoners designed the intricate escape.

Irritating

  • He has the irritating habit of smoking during meals.

Labored

  • They have labored to complete the job.

No picnic

  • Being a single parent is no picnic, I can tell you.

Operose

  • What an operose method!

Prohibitive

  • The cost of private treatment can be prohibitive.

Rigid

  • Her face was rigid with terror.

Stiff

  • He walked with a slow stiff gait.

Toilsome

  • It was sufficiently toilsome for one contending for life.

Unyielding

  • The mattress was hard and unyielding.

Uphill

  • He has an uphill battle against rheumatics.

Wearisome

  • Simple repetitive tasks can be very wearisome.

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