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
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Recent Examples of difficulty
However, particularly tall users or anyone who has difficulty getting in and out of low seats may want to look for a taller option.
—
Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
But Slam ended up facing difficulties in the market after the SPAC bubble burst in 2022.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 11 July 2025
In spite of difficulties at the festival, Dulac was able to lure prestigious guests to the event over the years, notably Keanu Reeves, Donald Sutherland, Agnès Varda, Brady Corbet, Ari Aster, Lily Gladstone, Joel Edgerton, Ira Sachs and Ben Winshaw.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 July 2025
Whether at camp or in classrooms, the difficulties children encounter in human relationships—the negotiations, compromises, and occasional conflicts—are essential for developing social and emotional intelligence.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Melanie Fincher, Southern Living, 12 July 2025
But Slam ended up facing difficulties in the market after the SPAC bubble burst in 2022.
—Brendan Coffey, Sportico.com, 11 July 2025
In spite of difficulties at the festival, Dulac was able to lure prestigious guests to the event over the years, notably Keanu Reeves, Donald Sutherland, Agnès Varda, Brady Corbet, Ari Aster, Lily Gladstone, Joel Edgerton, Ira Sachs and Ben Winshaw.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 11 July 2025
Whether at camp or in classrooms, the difficulties children encounter in human relationships—the negotiations, compromises, and occasional conflicts—are essential for developing social and emotional intelligence.
—Russell Shaw, The Atlantic, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulty
Noun
-
Individuals facing hardship or without access to digital payment methods can apply for exemptions, which are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
-
Derrick McCray wasn’t about to let sickness, death and hardship derail a 91-year-old barbecue dynasty, not after all his restaurant achieved: catering 18 straight Super Bowls, serving ribs to U.S. presidents and standing as a safe haven through the civil rights era.—
Phillip Valys,
Sun Sentinel,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Startups entering these markets often underestimate the complexity of compliance, auditability and institutional expectations.—
Kevin Meyer,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
-
At its core, Maybe Happy Ending is a story about the longing for connection and the complexities of being human (and Helperbot, and Vegetable) — universal themes that transcend all backgrounds.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
24 July 2025
Noun
-
Over the objections of some Federal Trade Commission employees who sent a joint letter to Congress, that agency held a daylong session about how medical care for transgender people was a dangerous fraud.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
21 July 2025
-
With maximum energy density, enhanced safety, and faster charging, nearly all objections to EV adoption would be eliminated.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Noun
-
Taylor Swift's surprise mural appearance and the controversy surrounding the sale of her masters to Scooter Braun added to the city's buzz.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
19 July 2025
-
Since then the Epstein controversy has become a major issue for Trump as backlash builds following the release of the DOJ memo.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
That’s coming with a whole lot of complications and betrayal and pressure and disaster.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
21 July 2025
-
Although foreign property ownership is legal in most of the countries on this list, the buying process can present all kinds of complications and costs.—
William P. Barrett,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
Noun
-
Assets left running for legitimate business reasons can be tagged with exception authorizations.—
Bojan Ilic,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
So far in Boulder, immigration authorities have largely complied with writs to produce defendants for state court hearings with just a handful of exceptions, said Michael Dougherty, the Boulder County district attorney.—
Shelly Bradbury,
Denver Post,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Threads on the South Park subreddit and social media have lit up with foul-mouthed complaints from international fans, most of them directed at Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Media, whose $8 billion buyout of Paramount is at the heart of the South Park dispute.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
-
But there are still some sour grapes about the big tactical dispute in February.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Building inspector Major construction work continues at the U.S. Federal Reserve building as U.S. President Donald Trump voices complaints about Fed Chair Jerome Powell, in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025.—
Josephine Rozzelle,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
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By July, the department had dismissed thousands of these complaints, raising concerns about whether each case was being dutifully considered.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
15 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulty. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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