difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult
ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt 
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
a difficult child
having a difficult time coping with her death
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
found calculus too difficult
difficultly
adverb
Examples of difficult in a Sentence
We were asked lots of difficult questions.
I had to make a very difficult decision.
We'll be hiking over difficult terrain.
It's more difficult than it sounds.
I found myself in a difficult position.
Some difficult days lie ahead of us.
These changes will make life difficult for everyone involved.
Recent Examples on the Web
The Bulls look to be the best team in the Group of Five conferences, while the Gators and coach Billy Napier are now under pressure with a difficult SEC schedule ahead.
—
Erick Smith, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Usually the final day of boot camp is most difficult.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
While the former army officer impressed judges with her delicate sugar work and love of French patisserie, navigating life after her win proved unexpectedly difficult.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The first two matches this season provided contrasting evidence as to whether Wieffer, after a difficult debut campaign with Brighton, is getting to grips with a position that was alien to him in his native Netherlands.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
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Erick Smith, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Usually the final day of boot camp is most difficult.
—Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 8 Sep. 2025
While the former army officer impressed judges with her delicate sugar work and love of French patisserie, navigating life after her win proved unexpectedly difficult.
—Jane Lacroix, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
The first two matches this season provided contrasting evidence as to whether Wieffer, after a difficult debut campaign with Brighton, is getting to grips with a position that was alien to him in his native Netherlands.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficult
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
difficult
adjective
dif·fi·cult
ˈdif-i-(ˌ)kəlt
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out
a difficult climb
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
a difficult child
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
difficult reading
difficultly
adverb
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