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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of difficulty
All of the elements unfurl as Nasard makes steady progress on a turnaround at Swarovski, which found itself in financial difficulty after the pandemic, bringing him on board in 2022 as the first non-family CEO of the company.
—
Miles Socha, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025
These practical difficulties are one reason that kid humor is a relatively small field in psychology.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Even a small percentage will translate into possibly millions upon millions of people who will experience mental health difficulties or be led further into mental health conditions.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
When facing financial difficulties, producer Romil Modi stepped in with crucial funding.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Miles Socha, Footwear News, 2 Sep. 2025
These practical difficulties are one reason that kid humor is a relatively small field in psychology.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2025
Even a small percentage will translate into possibly millions upon millions of people who will experience mental health difficulties or be led further into mental health conditions.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
When facing financial difficulties, producer Romil Modi stepped in with crucial funding.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for difficulty
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difficulty
Noun
-
Recent aid cuts have deepened hardships for families.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Landslide in western Sudan kills at least 1,000 A landslide in western Sudan killed at least 1,000 people, intensifying hardship in a country besieged by years of civil war.—
Tasneem Nashrulla,
semafor.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Peyton doubted that military attorneys would be able to master the complexities of immigration law without that rigorous process.—
Konstantin Toropin,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The best coaches translate complexity into clarity.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Over objections from the ordinance's co-sponsors, however, the committee passed an amendment — floated by Councilman Khalil Batshon — that would retain a licensing requirement for accessory overnight shelters run by religious institutions.—
Killian Baarlaer,
The Courier-Journal,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Republicans departed Washington promising to make changes to the Senate rules governing how nominees are confirmed despite objections from Democrats.—
Lauren Peller,
ABC News,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The continuing controversy has prompted comments from many stars of Allen's films.—
Mekishana Pierre,
EW.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
The Employee Retention Tax Credit also resulted in lots of new tax controversy work that didn’t exist before the credit was added with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At least four people drowned at McKinley Beach alone in 2020, which prompted Milwaukee County officials to close it for the remainder of the year — though the closure actually lasted until last spring, with restoration effort complications and an active lifeguard shortage.—
Cailey Gleeson,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Allen Frank was recovering from complications from falling off the roof while cleaning the siding of the couple’s home in Rich Fountain in October.—
Bram Sable-Smith,
Miami Herald,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There are exceptions, such as when the National Guard operates under state authority or when the Insurrection Act is invoked, allowing the president to deploy troops during major unrest or emergencies.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Senate Bill 627, for example, would prohibit law enforcement agents from covering their faces to obscure their identity, carving out exceptions for SWAT teams and undercover officers.—
Barnini Chakraborty,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Nearly a year after being removed from Lincoln Heights' village council over a tax dispute, a leading community activist has had his seat restored by a state appeals court.—
David Ferrara,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
5 Sep. 2025
-
How the courts and legislatures balance the rights of the majority and minority in these disputes over the place of the Ten Commandments in public life may go a long way toward shaping the future of religious freedom in American public education.—
Lydia Artz,
The Conversation,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But a butt dial revealed the truth about what actually happened, the complaint alleges.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
9 Sep. 2025
-
The site provides links to 14 private and government groups that accept and act on complaints, including the FBI, the Better Business Bureau, the Social Security Administration, AARP, the SEC, and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Difficulty.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difficulty. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share