difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult
ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt 
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
a difficult child
having a difficult time coping with her death
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
found calculus too difficult
difficultly
adverb
Examples of difficult in a Sentence
We were asked lots of difficult questions.
I had to make a very difficult decision.
We'll be hiking over difficult terrain.
It's more difficult than it sounds.
I found myself in a difficult position.
Some difficult days lie ahead of us.
These changes will make life difficult for everyone involved.
Recent Examples on the Web
Speaking with director Joe Johnston, Oka explained the two most difficult things to simulate digitally at the time were human skin and water.
—
Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 July 2025
They are often considered the most beautiful irises but can be difficult to grow.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
The project helped people in the industry see the potential for constructing larger structures in wood, which can be perceived as being difficult because of the rules around fire risk.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 15 July 2025
In a region where resources can be difficult to access and censorship persists, the initiative provided more than support.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
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Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 July 2025
They are often considered the most beautiful irises but can be difficult to grow.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 July 2025
The project helped people in the industry see the potential for constructing larger structures in wood, which can be perceived as being difficult because of the rules around fire risk.
—Lucy Handley, CNBC, 15 July 2025
In a region where resources can be difficult to access and censorship persists, the initiative provided more than support.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult
ˈdif-i-(ˌ)kəlt
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
a difficult child
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
difficultly
adverb
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