1
as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tough
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
it's a difficult situation when two of your friends are quarreling and you're trying to stay out of it
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficult
The effect can also trigger hard, dry stools that are difficult to pass.
—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
28 June 2026
San Miguel Sheriff's Office Steep and rugged terrain is making suppression efforts difficult for firefighters.
—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
Without effective cleaning and sanitizing, these contaminants can be difficult to remove and may increase the risk of cross-contamination.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
28 June 2026
The Wings know Miles is a handful and superstar Paige Bueckers talked about how difficult it’s been to slow her down.
—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
28 June 2026
San Miguel Sheriff's Office Steep and rugged terrain is making suppression efforts difficult for firefighters.
—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
28 June 2026
Without effective cleaning and sanitizing, these contaminants can be difficult to remove and may increase the risk of cross-contamination.
—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
28 June 2026
The Wings know Miles is a handful and superstar Paige Bueckers talked about how difficult it’s been to slow her down.
—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
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Keeping your hair looking and feeling shiny can be challenging, but not with this hair kit.
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Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore said that fighting the fire had been extremely challenging.
Adjective
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Summer 2026 is having a tough time deciding on this season’s dominating nail trend.
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These are typically low-wage jobs that the healthcare industry writ large has had a tough time recruiting for since the pandemic.
Adjective
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In the days leading up to his show, Chavarria and his team were hard at work in his make-shift studio in the 6th arrondissement.
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Closing a chapter, not the relationships For Sevy, the hardest part is closing this chapter with the people who made the place feel like home.
Adjective
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Rescuers then wait intently for any indication of life, using sensitive microphones or telescopic cameras or simply pressing an ear against the rubble, hoping to detect a voice, a knock or the faintest movement.
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So far, the administration has sued multiple states unsuccessfully in attempts to obtain sensitive voter-roll data to run through a federal database known as the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE, program.
Adjective
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And a rigorous screening protocol for LFS patients developed by David Malkin, a protege of Fraumeni and Li, helps detect early-stage malignancies, improving the odds of treating them and prolonging lives.
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According to Lacey, who helped set up the Code Four program last year, enforcing the law requires a clear grasp of ethics and a rigorous attention to detail to make sure the job is done well.
Adjective
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Or will society collectively begin to see this as problematic?
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Calories Burned Chasing a calorie burn is especially problematic, according to De Leon.
Adjective
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In a demanding, real-world performance setting — a capstone exercise, a live performance, a high-stakes simulation — the goal is not to eliminate all mistakes, but to stay in control and navigate the zone of being uncomfortable.
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New York crowds are passionate, honest, and demanding.
Adjective
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But a closer examination paints a more complicated picture.
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The city also has some of the world’s most complicated rules about air-conditioning installation.
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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