arduous

[ahr-joo-uhs, ahr-dyoo-]

adjective

1. requiring great exertion; laborious; difficult.

   an arduous undertaking.

   Synonyms: exhausting, burdensome, wearisome, onerous, toilsome, hard
   Antonyms: easy

2. requiring or using much energy and vigor; strenuous.

   making an arduous effort.

3. hard to climb; steep.

   an arduous path up the hill.

4. hard to endure; full of hardships; severe.

   an arduous winter.

arduous

/ ˈɑːdjʊəs /

adjective

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

2. hard to endure; harsh

   arduous conditions

3. hard to overcome or surmount; steep or difficult

   an arduous track

Other Word Forms

• arduously adverb
• arduousness noun
• superarduous adjective
• superarduously adverb
• superarduousness noun
• unarduous adjective
• unarduously adverb
• unarduousness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of arduous¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of arduous¹

C16: from Latin arduus steep, difficult

Example Sentences

He remembered it as an arduous but ultimately joyous affair -- although he regretted that the glory had not been more equally shared among the team.

Read more on Barron's

Those who could afford it paid high prices to hire donkey carts or small trucks to make the arduous journey north.

Read more on BBC

The terrain made for arduous access to their property and their contractor told them building costs would soar unless they convinced their neighbors to let them truck materials through their then-empty lots.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Despite the arduous scheduling of recent games, Guardiola decided to name the same starting XI for a third consecutive game - only the third time he has done this during his nine years at the club.

Read more on BBC

Bellamy just hopes it won't be as long and arduous as the one that took him and his team to Kazakhstan.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• backbreaking 
• burdensome 
• exhausting 
• formidable 
• grueling 
• laborious 
• onerous 
• painful 
• rigorous 
• strenuous 
• tiring www.thesaurus.com
• tough 
• troublesome 
• trying 
• uphill