difficulty [dif -i-kuhl-tee, -kuh l-tee]
Synonyms Examples Word Origin
See more synonyms for difficulty on Thesaurus.com noun, plural dif·fi·cul·ties. the fact or condition of being difficult. Often difficul·ties. an embarrassing situation, especially of financial affairs. a trouble or struggle. a cause of trouble, struggle, or embarrassment. a disagreement or dispute. reluctance; unwillingness. a demur; objection. something that is hard to do, understand, or surmount; an impediment or obstacle. Show More
Origin of difficulty 1350–1400; Middle English difficulte (<
Anglo-French ) <
Latin difficultās, equivalent to
difficil(is )
difficile +
-tās -ty2 Related forms pre·dif·fi·cul·ty , noun, plural pre·dif·fi·cul·ties. Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Related Words for difficulty predicament ,
complication ,
dilemma ,
hardship ,
hazard ,
snag ,
obstacle ,
struggle ,
frustration ,
pain ,
trouble ,
deadlock ,
crisis ,
adversity ,
stress ,
anxiety ,
embarrassment ,
inconvenience ,
setback ,
strife Examples from the Web for difficulty Contemporary Examples of difficulty The difficulty with Mr. Redford is, you see, as I understand it, he gets one million dollars a picture.
I do realize the difficulty in totally canceling productions of this opera.
The battle to secure that funding is testament to the difficulty in making truly independent movies.
Mary and Tom are concerned for Cumming, too, “as in the past there has been difficulty .”
The fewer diagnostic criteria required to call a person impaired, the more “any difficulty whatsoever” can be deemed impairment.
Historical Examples of difficulty Mr. Paine looked up as he entered, and had no difficulty in guessing his errand.
She managed it with difficulty between the convulsions that were rending her.
But there is one difficulty which it is impossible to remove.
He climbed down with difficulty , clutching one hand with the other.
You think of your wife, grappling with a kind of difficulty to which she is unaccustomed.
British Dictionary definitions for difficulty the state or quality of being difficult a task, problem, etc, that is hard to deal with (often plural) a troublesome or embarrassing situation, esp a financial one a dispute or disagreement (often plural) an objection or obstacle he always makes difficulties a trouble or source of trouble; worry lack of ease; awkwardness he could run only with difficulty Show More
Word Origin for difficulty C14: from Latin difficultās, from difficilis difficult, from dis- not + facilis easy, facile
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for difficulty n. late 14c., from Old French difficulté , from Latin difficultatem (nominative difficultas ) "difficulty, distress, poverty," from difficilis "hard," from dis- "not, away from" (see dis- ) + facilis "easy" (see facile ).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
