difficulty

noun

ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəl-tē How to pronounce difficulty (audio)
Definition of difficultynext
1
as in hardship
something that is a cause for suffering or special effort especially in the attainment of a goal the many difficulties that he encountered on the road from poor orphan to head of a major corporation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in complexity
something that makes a situation more complicated or difficult there was a minor difficulty when we realized that the store had already closed

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent the only difficulty I have with the dress is its color—does it come in anything besides purple?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in controversy
variance of opinion on a matter the theologian's ongoing difficulties with the Vatican

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of difficulty But breaking through the top of the hydropower station presents its own difficulties. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2026 His system corrects for that by comparing each coach against the specific difficulty of what he was actually given, not a league-wide baseline. — Rhett Power, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Of course, making wine from a single clone has its difficulties. — Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2026 The trend has been accelerated by an embrace of countywide voting sites and the difficulty in recruiting poll workers. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulty
  1. hardship
  2. complexity
  3. objection
  4. controversy
  5. complication
  6. exception
  7. dispute
  8. complaint
Noun
  • Ask yourself if waiting would cause a practical problem (like not having transportation) or additional financial hardship (like high-interest credit card debt).
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Other exemptions are offered to students who are 21 or older, have a medical condition or disability that cannot be accommodated on campus, married or are a parent, face financial hardship, or are active-duty members of the armed forces or veterans.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of hardship
Noun
  • Rejecting the imaginary lyrical voice, her work offers the beauty of commonplace detail from which stories make truth evident as complexity.
    — Wallis Wilde-Menozzi, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Rivaling modern sewers in size and complexity, this remarkable network of tunnels dates as far back as 500 BC, and parts are still in use today, draining runoff from the Forum in the heart of the city.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of complexity
Noun
  • The sale has drawn objections from the flight attendants union and a software firm that says some of the data isn’t Spirit’s to sell.
    — Jeff Kleinma, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Collins, Scott, and Whitmer spent much of the past year and a half framing their objections as cautionary.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of objection
Noun
  • Although the allegations became a significant controversy surrounding his political career, higher courts later invalidated key evidence in the investigation, and the criminal complaint against him was rejected in 2022.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The vote came without debate on the Assembly floor, despite previous controversy over the changes as the bill moved through the Senate.
    — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of controversy
Noun
  • There were also legal complications over the film rights until Schwarzenegger convinced Carolco Pictures, the studio behind Total Recall (1990), to buy everyone out and hire Cameron to make Judgment Day.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Children under the age of 5 who get measles are more likely to develop serious complications, including pneumonia and brain swelling, compared with older kids.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of complication
Noun
  • With rare exceptions, EV sound is little more than an affectation.
    — Byron Hurd, The Drive, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Washington had carved out exceptions for itself and some European countries to buy Russian oil, and the Biden administration had even encouraged India to buy Russian oil under a price cap as part of a plan to stabilize the global oil market.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • The planned center for arbitrating investment and commercial disputes, for example, will sit within the Syrian Investment Authority, which is itself attached to the presidency.
    — Jesse Marks, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Adair died in jail following a dispute with deputies, including Fatherley, who knelt on his back.
    — Sofi Zeman August 31, Kansas City Star, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of dispute
Noun
  • Grannell has made other threats this year, beginning five months ago, according to the account of an FBI special agent that is described in a criminal complaint.
    — Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The first ethics complaint was filed last Friday by an employee of the City Attorney's Office who also asked to remain anonymous.
    — Brian Maass, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of complaint

Browse Nearby Words

difficulties
difficulty
diffidence
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulty. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All