adjective
difficult
Requiring considerable effort or skill.
This puzzle is difficult to solve without a few hints.
Etymology
Latin difficilis meant not easy. The word preserves that resistance to easy accomplishment, describing something that demands substantial effort, skill, or persistence from the person attempting it.
More examples
- Heavy snow makes the drive home more difficult.
- The violinist practices the most difficult passage slowly.
- Choosing between two good job offers is difficult.
Forms
difficult · more difficult · most difficult
difficulty noun — A problem requiring effort or skill.
Similar words
- hard
- Often interchangeable, but more conversational and broader in meaning.
- challenging
- Emphasizes a test of ability, often suggesting something worthwhile.
- demanding
- Emphasizes sustained effort, attention, or high standards of performance.