difficult
17 synonyms and 1 antonyms for difficult, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Hard to do; requiring a lot of effort, skill, or thought.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
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 difficult
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
A back-formation from difficulty, ultimately from Latin difficilis, "hard to do" — from dis- plus facilis, "easy."
Full origin of difficult →Frequently asked questions
What does “difficult” mean?
The word “difficult” means hard to do; requiring a lot of effort, skill, or thought. In plain terms, not easy — either a hard task, or a hard person to get along with.
How do you pronounce “difficult”?
“Difficult” is pronounced DIH-fih-kuhlt (/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “difficult” in a sentence?
Here is “difficult” used in a sentence: “The exam was more difficult than she expected.”
What is another word for “difficult”?
Words with a similar meaning to “difficult” include burdensome, cumbersome, hard, arduous, challenging and nasty.
What is the opposite of “difficult”?
The opposite of “difficult” — its antonyms — is easy.
What part of speech is “difficult”?
“Difficult” is an adjective.
Where does the word “difficult” come from?
The word “difficult” comes from Latin. A back-formation from difficulty, ultimately from Latin difficilis, "hard to do" — from dis- plus facilis, "easy.".
Is “difficult” a common word?
“Difficult” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between difficult and hard?
In the sense of not being easy, difficult and hard are close synonyms and usually interchangeable. 'Hard' is more informal and has extra meanings, such as firm or solid, while 'difficult' only ever means requiring effort or skill. A rock is hard, but never difficult.
What is the opposite of difficult?
The most common opposites are 'easy' and 'simple', describing something that takes little effort, skill, or thought. Depending on context you might also use 'straightforward', 'effortless', or 'manageable'. The right choice depends on whether you mean easy to do, easy to understand, or easy to handle.
Can a person be difficult?
Yes. When applied to people, difficult means hard to deal with, please, or reason with, often because they are stubborn or uncooperative. A 'difficult customer' is demanding and easily dissatisfied. This differs from a task being difficult; here the challenge lies in the person's behaviour.
Is 'difficult' a negative word?
Generally yes, since it signals that something requires struggle or causes trouble. However, it is not always negative: a 'difficult but rewarding' challenge can be desirable, and describing work as difficult can acknowledge genuine skill. Tone and context decide whether it discourages or simply informs.