1
as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difficult
The onset of elevated inflation alongside sluggish hiring in recent months had put the Fed in a difficult position, even before the DOJ opened a probe into Powell.
—
Max Zahn, ABC News, 13 Jan. 2026
And a majority don’t have Venezuelan passports, which are difficult to acquire or renew from abroad.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
That brings us to another difficult question.
—Daniel Popper, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Ronald attempted to slit Sheriden's throat but found the task too difficult with a dull knife.
—Cbs Miami Team, CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficult
Adjective
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But advocates say this year has been the most challenging.—
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Purple proved to be the most challenging.—
Adjective
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After a rocky two years, the luxury industry is expected to carry its third-quarter recovery into Q4, despite some tough comparables.—
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That hope ended on July 3, 2025 when Michael, the charismatic tough guy actor known for his memorable roles in Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs, died of cardiac arrest at 67 years old after a long struggle with alcoholism.—
Adjective
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Shouldn’t even be that hard to sharpen the blasted thing, let alone twist it.—
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Jones raved about his consistency, intelligence, hard work and athleticism.—
Adjective
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The commission said the report overlooks other time-sensitive cases that don't require intake appointments.—
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Cold conditions may damage or kill sensitive crops, plants, and vegetation if appropriate precautions are not taken.—
Adjective
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Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.—
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Denim and cotton can survive in rigorous washing, while silk and wool will need a gentle washing.—
Adjective
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Those costs, Adler said, include slowing down response times, increasing the number of computations and sometimes the model rejecting non-problematic requests.—
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The Sabres run into some significant issues down the lineup — upgrading the fourth line should be among Kekäläinen’s most pressing priorities between now and the trade deadline — but young centre Noah Ostlund has helped give Buffalo’s usually problematic fourth line some connective heft and floor.—
Adjective
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Philadelphia first tried the 24-year-old at center but eventually moved him to the wing, presumably because of his struggles in the faceoff circle (just 39 percent of draws won) and because the wing is a less demanding defensive position.—
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Both must meet demanding performance standards, operate on efficient edge-compute systems, deliver provable safety, and scale in a commercially viable way.—
Adjective
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But, the good news is that cleaning shower grout isn't complicated.—
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So there are a lot of complicated emotions and a mixture of emotions happening, as well as gestures.—
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficult. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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