difficult
DIH-fih-kuhlt
Difficult (adjective) means Hard to do; requiring a lot of effort, skill, or thought. Example: “The exam was more difficult than she expected.”
adjective
1
Hard to do; requiring a lot of effort, skill, or thought.
"The exam was more difficult than she expected."
"Learning a new language is difficult but rewarding."
"It is difficult to concentrate when the neighbours are playing loud music."
2
Hard to deal with; uncooperative or awkward in manner.
"He can be a difficult person to work with."
"The toddler was being difficult and refused to put on his shoes."
"A difficult customer shouted at the staff for a very long time."
How to use difficult
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot easy — either a hard task, or a hard person to get along with.
Common pairings
difficult decision
difficult person
difficult situation
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- difficults
- Past tense
- difficulted
- Comparative
- more difficult
- Superlative
- most difficult
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The exam was more _____ than she expected.
Etymology
A back-formation from difficulty, ultimately from Latin difficilis, "hard to do" — from dis- plus facilis, "easy."
Synonyms
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Related words
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.
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