Difficult can describe something demanding, complicated, intimidating, or burdensome. Choosing a more specific alternative can show whether the challenge comes from effort, complexity, or pressure.
Which Kind of Difficulty Do You Mean?
For Difficult, the 12 options below are arranged by meaning and use. The quick list matches the detailed entries and examples that follow.
- Challenging
- Arduous
- Daunting
- Strenuous
- Formidable
- Taxing
- Onerous
- Grueling
- Burdensome
- Complex
- Laborious
- Complicated
Challenging
“Challenging” means requiring skill, thought, or sustained effort. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: A copy editor might prefer “Challenging” for wording concerned with requiring skill, thought, or sustained effort.
Arduous
“Arduous” means requiring prolonged and demanding effort. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: In context, “Arduous” works well when the sentence is describing requiring prolonged and demanding effort.
Daunting
“Daunting” means seeming difficult enough to cause apprehension. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: A sentence focused on seeming difficult enough to cause apprehension can use “Daunting” without simply repeating “Difficult”.
Strenuous
“Strenuous” means requiring substantial physical or mental exertion. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: The alternative “Strenuous” is most useful when requiring substantial physical or mental exertion is the nuance the writer wants.
Formidable
“Formidable” means difficult because of impressive strength, scale, or capability. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: A draft about difficult because of impressive strength, scale, or capability might replace “Difficult” with “Formidable” for greater precision.
Taxing
“Taxing” means placing heavy demands on energy or concentration. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: When placing heavy demands on energy or concentration is the main idea, “Taxing” can be the cleaner wording choice.
Onerous
“Onerous” means involving an unwelcome burden or responsibility. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: The wording “Onerous” suits a sentence in which the emphasis falls on involving an unwelcome burden or responsibility.
Grueling
“Grueling” means extremely tiring and demanding. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: A writer comparing near-synonyms might choose “Grueling” for the sense involving extremely tiring and demanding.
Burdensome
“Burdensome” means difficult because it creates a heavy obligation or load. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: In an edited sentence, “Burdensome” can carry the part of “Difficult” connected with difficult because it creates a heavy obligation or load.
Complex
“Complex” means involving many interconnected parts or factors. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: If the intended nuance is involving many interconnected parts or factors, “Complex” is a plausible substitute for “Difficult”.
Laborious
“Laborious” means requiring a great deal of time and effort. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: The phrase “Laborious” belongs naturally in writing where the important idea is requiring a great deal of time and effort.
Complicated
“Complicated” means difficult to understand or manage because of multiple details. It is a more precise alternative to Difficult when that particular nuance is the one you need.
Example: For prose that highlights difficult to understand or manage because of multiple details, “Complicated” can sharpen the wording.
Choosing the Right Wording for “Difficult”
Challenging is broad and often neutral. Arduous, strenuous, taxing, grueling, and laborious emphasize effort; complex and complicated emphasize structure; daunting and formidable emphasize how intimidating the task appears; onerous and burdensome emphasize obligation.