difficult

UK: /ˈdɪfɪkəlt/

US: /ˈdɪfɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt/

US: (dif′i kult′, -kəlt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dif•fi•cult /ˈdɪfɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt/   adj. 

1. requiring special effort, skill, or planning:
   a difficult job.
   [it + be + ~ + (for + object +) to + verb]
   It was difficult (for her) to get a good job.
2. hard to understand or solve:
   a difficult problem.
3. hard to deal with or get along with:
   a difficult pupil.
4. disadvantageous;
   trying;
   hampering:
   under difficult conditions.
5. full of hardship, esp. financial hardship:
   in these difficult times.

dif•fi•cult•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dif•fi•cult  (dif′i kult′, -kəlt), adj. 

1. not easily or readily done;
   requiring much labor, skill, or planning to be performed successfully;
   hard:
   a difficult job.
2. hard to understand or solve:
   a difficult problem.
3. hard to deal with or get on with:
   a difficult pupil.
4. hard to please or satisfy:
   a difficult employer.
5. hard to persuade or induce;
   stubborn:
   a difficult old man.
6. disadvantageous;
   trying;
   hampering:
   The operation was performed under the most difficult conditions.
7. fraught with hardship, esp. financial hardship:
   We saw some difficult times during the depression years.

• Middle English, back formation from difficulty 1350–1400

dif′fi•cult′ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. . arduous. See hard. 
• 2. . intricate, perplexing, involved, knotty.
• 4. . particular, finical, fussy.
• 5. . obdurate, uncompromising.

Antonyms

• 1. . easy.
• 2. . simple.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

difficult / ˈdɪfɪk^əlt/ adjective

1. not easy to do; requiring effort
2. not easy to understand or solve; intricate
3. hard to deal with; troublesome: a difficult child
4. not easily convinced, pleased, or satisfied
5. full of hardships or trials

Etymology: 14th Century: back formation from difficulty

ˈdifficultly adverb