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
Synonyms
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
Challenges of an Airline Pilot's Lifestyle Beyond the technical demands of the job, Wallach said the most difficult part of being a pilot was the lifestyle—particularly as a single parent.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
An aviation expert, along with the Army pilot, tells PEOPLE that Reagan National Airport can be especially difficult to fly into.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 30 Jan. 2025
With Vandersloot secured, the Sky face a difficult decision: Will their backcourt benefit more from drafting a guard or adding another high-caliber veteran?
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Those are the kinds of things that make (Trenin) a difficult player to play against.
—Joe Smith, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for difficult 
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025
An aviation expert, along with the Army pilot, tells PEOPLE that Reagan National Airport can be especially difficult to fly into.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 30 Jan. 2025
With Vandersloot secured, the Sky face a difficult decision: Will their backcourt benefit more from drafting a guard or adding another high-caliber veteran?
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2025
Those are the kinds of things that make (Trenin) a difficult player to play against.
—Joe Smith, The Athletic, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for difficult
Dictionary Entries Near difficult
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 2 Feb. 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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