Language learning is a thrilling journey, and a big part of it is the diversity of words and phrases we can use to express the same idea. It makes communication more interesting and colourful, doesn’t it? The word “difficult” is often used, but did you know there are numerous other ways to convey the same idea in English? Understanding and using these alternatives can not only enrich your vocabulary but also make your conversations and writings more engaging and nuanced. So, why stick to just one word when there’s a whole palette waiting for you?
Here’s a comprehensive list of 39 widely-used synonyms for the word “difficult”:
1. Challenging – Implies that something requires a lot of effort or skill.
Example: This puzzle is quite challenging.
2. Arduous – Indicates a task that is hard and tiresome.
Example: The mountain hike was arduous.
3. Tough – A casual way of saying something is hard to deal with or endure.
Example: It was a tough decision to make.
4. Complicated – Refers to something that is not easy to understand or analyze.
Example: The instructions were very complicated.
5. Hard – A simple, informal alternative to “difficult”.
Example: This is a hard problem to solve.
6. Tricky – Implies that something is not straightforward and may require careful handling.
Example: The situation was tricky to navigate.
7. Demanding – Indicates a task requires a lot of time, energy or patience.
Example: His job is extremely demanding.
8. Complex – Describes something that has many interconnected parts and is not easy to understand or explain.
Example: The human brain is a complex organ.
9. Problematic – Implies that something is causing problems or difficulties.
Example: His constant lateness is problematic.
10. Strenuous – Used to describe a task or activity that requires a lot of energy and stamina.
Example: The workout was quite strenuous.
11. Laborious – Indicates a task that requires considerable time and effort.
Example: Painting the ceiling was a laborious task.
12. Tiresome – Describes something that is exhausting or annoyingly difficult.
Example: The long drive was tiresome.
13. Intricate – Refers to something that has a lot of small parts or details, making it difficult to understand or fix.
Example: The plot of the movie was intricate.
14. Thorny – Describes a problem or situation that is difficult to deal with.
Example: The issue turned out to be a thorny one.
15. Troublesome – Refers to something that is causing problems or difficulties.
Example: The leak in the roof became troublesome.
16. Burdensome – Implies that something is causing worry, difficulty, or hard work.
Example: The debt was burdensome.
17. Vexing – Describes something that is annoying or causes a lot of problems.
Example: The constant noise from the construction site was vexing.
18. Daunting – Indicates a task that appears very difficult or frightening to deal with.
Example: The idea of public speaking can be daunting for some people.
19. Knotty – Refers to a problem or situation that is very complicated and difficult to solve.
Example: The negotiations were knotty.
20. Rigorous – Describes something that is extremely thorough and strict; requires great effort.
Example: The training program is rigorous.
21. Exacting – Indicates a task that requires a lot of time, attention, or effort.
Example: The job requires exacting attention to detail.
22. Grueling – Describes a task that is extremely tiring and demanding.
Example: The marathon was a grueling event.
23. Herculean – Describes an extremely difficult task or challenge.
Example: The project was a Herculean task.
24. On a knife’s edge – Used to describe a situation that could very easily become very difficult or dangerous.
Example: The peace talks are on a knife’s edge.
25. A tough nut to crack – Describes a problem that is difficult to solve.
Example: The mystery was a tough nut to crack.
26. Uphill – Used to describe a difficult task or challenge.
Example: It’s an uphill battle trying to stay fit.
27. Painstaking – Describes something that requires a lot of careful effort and attention.
Example: The research was painstaking.
28. Prohibitive – Describes something that is so difficult or expensive that it prevents people from doing or achieving something.
Example: The cost of entry to the concert was prohibitive.
29. Overwhelming – Used to describe something that is so big, complicated, or difficult that it is hard to comprehend or deal with.
Example: The workload this semester is overwhelming.
30. Formidable – Describes something that is inspiring fear or respect through being impressively large, powerful, intense, or capable.
Example: The company faces formidable challenges.
31. Tedious – Describes something that is too long, slow, or dull: tiresome or monotonous.
Example: The process of data entry is tedious.
32. Cumbersome – Describes something that is large or heavy and therefore difficult to carry or use; unwieldy.
Example: The large package was cumbersome to handle.
33. Obstinate – Describes something that is difficult to change or overcome.
Example: The stain was obstinate and refused to come out.
34. Back-breaking – Describes work that is very difficult or hard physical labor.
Example: Shoveling snow all day was back-breaking work.
35. Inflexible – Describes something that is not easily changed or adapted.
Example: The policy was inflexible and could not be modified.
36. A bear – An informal way to describe something that is hard to handle or manage.
Example: This project is a bear.
37. A handful – An informal way to describe something or someone difficult to control or handle.
Example: The new puppy is quite a handful.
38. A beast – An informal way to describe something that is very difficult.
Example: The math test was a beast.
39. A pain in the neck – An informal way to describe a person or thing that is very annoying or troublesome.
Example: The constant questions were a pain in the neck.
To wrap up, there’s a whole universe of words and phrases to express the idea of something being “difficult” in English. You’ve just taken a significant step in expanding your English vocabulary and enriching your expression. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to use these phrases when you converse or write. The more you use them, the more natural they will feel. Keep learning, keep growing!
