effortful

adjective

ef·​fort·​ful ˈe-fərt-fəl 

: showing or requiring effort

effortfully

ˈe-fərt-fə-lē 

adverb

effortfulness

ˈe-fərt-fəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• arduous
• Augean
• backbreaking
• challenging
• demanding
• difficult
• exacting
• formidable
• grueling
• gruelling
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• herculean
• killer
• laborious
• moiling
• murderous
• pick-and-shovel
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stiff
• strenuous
• sweaty
• tall
• testing
• toilsome
• tough
• uphill

Examples of effortful in a Sentence

the book's abstruse subject matter and dense prose make for effortful reading

Recent Examples on the Web

Somehow, organizational antibodies that should have kicked in to prevent this effortful process weren’t there. —Roger Dooley, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

Cronin said that the Ducks’ recent pair of losses to the Kings – the Ducks also lost to their crosstown rivals, 3-2, on Saturday in Ontario – demonstrated some of what his club should emulate in terms of effortful shot-blocking and aggressive forechecking. —Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 1 Oct. 2024

Instead of simplifying the process, Whole Foods found a way to make checking out with an alcohol purchase significantly more effortful. —Roger Dooley, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024

Moreover, job candidates may get turned off by companies that require lengthy, effortful assessment processes. —Elaine Pulakos, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1895, in the meaning defined above