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
An attorney for the plaintiff faulted the city for putting a temporary traffic light in a location that was difficult for drivers to see.
—
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The once largely seasonal crime grew during the pandemic, when trips to stores were difficult, and has since become far more common throughout the year in D.C. and elsewhere.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for difficult 
Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
The once largely seasonal crime grew during the pandemic, when trips to stores were difficult, and has since become far more common throughout the year in D.C. and elsewhere.
—Peter Hermann, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for difficult
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'difficult.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near difficult
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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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