- 1difficult (for somebody) (to do something) not easy; needing effort or skill to do or to understand a difficult problem/task/exam It's difficult for them to get here much before seven. It's really difficult to read your writing. Your writing is really difficult to read. She finds it very difficult to get up early.
- 2full of problems; causing a lot of trouble to be in a difficult position/situation My boss is making life very difficult for me. Thirteen is a difficult age.
- 3(of people) not easy to please; not helpful synonym awkward a difficult child/customer/boss Don't pay any attention to her—she's just being difficult. Thesaurusdifficult
- hard
- challenging
- demanding
- taxing
- difficult not easy; needing effort or skill to do or understand:The test questions were extremely difficult. It is difficult for young people to find jobs around here.
- hard not easy; needing effort or skill to do or understand:Teaching high school students is hard work. It was one of the hardest things I ever did.
- Hard is slightly less formal than difficult. It is used particularly in the structure hard to believe/say/find/take, etc., although difficult can also be used in any of these examples.
- challenging (approving) difficult in an interesting way that tests your ability
- demanding difficult to do or deal with and needing a lot of effort, skill, or patience:It is a technically demanding piece of music to play.
- taxing difficult to do and needing a lot of mental or physical effort:The work can be very physically and mentally taxing.
- difficult/hard/challenging/demanding/taxing for somebody
- difficult/hard to do something
- physically difficult/hard/challenging/demanding/taxing
- technically difficult/challenging/demanding
- mentally/intellectually challenging/demanding/taxing
to cause problems for someone She does everything she can to make life difficult for him.
Check pronunciation: difficult