arduous

[ ahr-joo-uhs or, especially British, ahr-dyoo- ]
See synonyms for arduous on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. requiring great exertion; laborious; difficult: an arduous undertaking.

  2. requiring or using much energy and vigor; strenuous: making an arduous effort.

  1. hard to climb; steep: an arduous path up the hill.

  2. hard to endure; full of hardships; severe: an arduous winter.

Origin of arduous

1
First recorded in 1530–40; from Latin arduus “erect, laborious, steep”

Other words for arduous

Opposites for arduous

Other words from arduous

  • ar·du·ous·ly, adverb
  • ar·du·ous·ness, noun
  • su·per·ar·du·ous, adjective
  • su·per·ar·du·ous·ly, adverb
  • su·per·ar·du·ous·ness, noun
  • un·ar·du·ous, adjective
  • un·ar·du·ous·ly, adverb
  • un·ar·du·ous·ness, noun

Words Nearby arduous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use arduous in a sentence

  • Indeed, 'we have laid upon him various arduous tasks touching the state of the country, and especially its tranquillity.'

    King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
  • But Samuel Adams, who thought "nothing should be despaired of," took upon himself the performance of this arduous task.

  • Sir Edward Bruce, after an arduous struggle, had taken a firm grip of Galloway by the end of 1308.

    King Robert the Bruce | A. F. Murison
  • Nature seems still to wish to keep the young and blushing girl apart from that connection which entails grave and arduous duties.

  • Though Weston was more or less accustomed to the work, he found the first few hours sufficiently arduous.

    The Gold Trail | Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for arduous

arduous

/ (ˈɑːdjʊəs) /


adjective
  1. requiring great physical or mental effort; difficult to accomplish; strenuous

  2. hard to endure; harsh: arduous conditions

  1. hard to overcome or surmount; steep or difficult: an arduous track

Origin of arduous

1
C16: from Latin arduus steep, difficult

Derived forms of arduous

  • arduously, adverb
  • arduousness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012