Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [dif-i-kuhlt, -kuh lt]
- /ˈdɪf ɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt/
- /ˈdɪfɪkəlt/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [dif-i-kuhlt, -kuh lt]
- /ˈdɪf ɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt/
Definitions of difficult word
- adjective difficult not easily or readily done; requiring much labor, skill, or planning to be performed successfully; hard: a difficult job. 2
- adjective difficult hard to understand or solve: a difficult problem. 1
- adjective difficult hard to deal with or get on with: a difficult pupil. 1
- adjective difficult hard to please or satisfy: a difficult employer. 1
- adjective difficult hard to persuade or induce; stubborn: a difficult old man. 1
- adjective difficult disadvantageous; trying; hampering: The operation was performed under the most difficult conditions. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of difficult
First appearance:
before 1350 One of the 20% oldest English words
1350-1400; Middle English, back formation from difficulty
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Difficult
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
difficult popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 94% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
difficult usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for difficult
adj difficult
- troublesome — causing trouble, annoyance, or difficulty; vexatious: a troublesome situation; a troublesome person.
- crucial — If you describe something as crucial, you mean it is extremely important.
- tough — strong and durable; not easily broken or cut.
- problematic — of the nature of a problem; doubtful; uncertain; questionable.
- arduous — Something that is arduous is difficult and tiring, and involves a lot of effort.
adjective difficult
- hard — not soft; solid and firm to the touch; unyielding to pressure and impenetrable or almost impenetrable.
- tricky — given to or characterized by deceitful tricks; crafty; wily.
- complicated — If you say that something is complicated, you mean it has so many parts or aspects that it is difficult to understand or deal with.
- testing — the means by which the presence, quality, or genuineness of anything is determined; a means of trial.
- tiring — Archaic. to dress (the head or hair), especially with a headdress.
Antonyms for difficult
adj difficult
- helpful — giving or rendering aid or assistance; of service: Your comments were very helpful.
- trivial — of very little importance or value; insignificant: Don't bother me with trivial matters.
- facile — moving, acting, working, proceeding, etc., with ease, sometimes with superficiality: facile fingers; a facile mind.
- effortless — requiring or involving no effort; displaying no signs of effort; easy: an effortless writing style.
- manageable — that can be managed; governable; tractable; contrivable.
adjective difficult
- amenable — If you are amenable to something, you are willing to do it or accept it.
Top questions with difficult
- how to deal with difficult people?
- what makes it difficult to control human population growth?
- how can you show good sportsmanship in a difficult situation?
- what is the most difficult sport?
- why are fixed expenses difficult to reduce?
- how to deal with a difficult boss?
- how to deal with difficult coworkers?
- how to deal with difficult employees?
- how to deal with a difficult baby mama?
- tell me how you handled a difficult situation?
- how to deal with difficult people at work?
- describe a difficult situation and how you handled it?
- which term means difficult or labored breathing?
- how to make difficult decisions?
- how do you say difficult in spanish?
See also
Matching words
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