difficulty

/'difikəlti/
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difficulty

The hiker paused to consider the difficulty of the steep path ahead.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • The quality or state of being hard to do, understand, or deal with: "Difficulty" refers to the fact of something not being easy, requiring effort or skill.
    • A problem or obstacle that makes something hard to achieve: "Difficulty" can be a specific thing that causes trouble or stands in the way of success.
    • A state of hardship or trouble, often involving a lack of money or resources: "Difficulty" can describe a challenging situation or condition of life.
    • Great effort or inconvenience required to do something: "Difficulty" can refer to the exertion or struggle involved in an action.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • They discussed the difficulty of the task. (The challenge level of the task was discussed.)
    • The company is facing financial difficulties. (The company is experiencing monetary problems.)
    • She had great difficulty understanding the instructions. (She found it very hard to understand the instructions.)
    • He completed the climb, but only with difficulty. (He finished the climb, but it required a lot of effort.)
Advanced Usage
  • "To have difficulty (in) doing something": To find it hard to perform a specific action.
    • He has difficulty walking without a cane.
  • "To make/raise difficulties": To create objections or problems, often unnecessarily.
    • The committee raised difficulties about the proposed budget.
  • "To be in difficulties": To be in a problematic or financially troubled situation.
    • After the market crash, many investors found themselves in difficulties.
Variants and Related Words
  • Difficult (adj): Hard to do, understand, or deal with.
    • It was a difficult decision to make.
  • Difficultly (adv, rare): In a difficult manner. (Note: The more common adverb is "with difficulty".)
Synonyms
  • Problem: A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with.
  • Hardship: Severe suffering or privation.
  • Struggle: A forceful or violent effort to get free of restraint or resist attack.
  • Obstacle: A thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.
Related Phrases
  • With great difficulty: Requiring a very large amount of effort.
    • The message was sent with great difficulty.
  • Without difficulty: Easily; with no trouble.
    • She solved the puzzle without difficulty.
Idioms
  • Get/run into difficulties: To encounter problems.
    • The project got into difficulties when the main supplier went bankrupt.
  • Difficulty level: The degree of challenge in a task, game, or test.
    • Please set the game to a higher difficulty level.
difficulty

The hiker paused to consider the difficulty of the steep path ahead.

Noun
  1. the quality of being difficult
    • they agreed about the difficulty of the climb
  2. a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome
    • grappling with financial difficulties
  3. a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result
    • serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent
  4. an effort that is inconvenient
    • I went to a lot of trouble
    • he won without any trouble
    • had difficulty walking
    • finished the test only with great difficulty