arduous
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for arduous, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Requiring great effort or endurance; difficult and tiring.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use arduous
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
arduous journey
arduous task
arduous climb
Etymology
From Latin arduus, "steep, high, difficult," related to an old word for "high."
Full origin of arduous →Frequently asked questions
What does “arduous” mean?
The word “arduous” means requiring great effort or endurance; difficult and tiring. In plain terms, very hard work that takes a lot of effort and stamina to get through.
How do you pronounce “arduous”?
“Arduous” is pronounced AH-dyoo-uhs (/ˈɑɹ.d͡ʒu.əs/ in IPA).
How do you use “arduous” in a sentence?
Here is “arduous” used in a sentence: “The climb to the summit was long and arduous.”
What is another word for “arduous”?
Words with a similar meaning to “arduous” include burdensome, demanding, exhausting, fatiguing, laborious and onerous.
What part of speech is “arduous”?
“Arduous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “arduous” come from?
The word “arduous” comes from Latin. From Latin arduus, "steep, high, difficult," related to an old word for "high.".
Is “arduous” a common word?
“Arduous” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.
