difficulty

[dif-i-kuhl-tee]

noun

plural

difficulties 

1. the fact or condition of being difficult.

2. Often difficulties. an embarrassing situation, especially of financial affairs.

   Synonyms: strait, exigency, fix, plight, quandary, predicament, dilemma

3. a trouble or struggle.

   Synonyms: problem

4. a cause of trouble, struggle, or embarrassment.

5. a disagreement or dispute.

6. reluctance; unwillingness.

7. a demur; objection.

8. something that is hard to do, understand, or surmount; an impediment or obstacle.

difficulty

/ ˈdɪfɪkəltɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being difficult

2. a task, problem, etc, that is hard to deal with

3. (often plural) a troublesome or embarrassing situation, esp a financial one

4. a dispute or disagreement

5. (often plural) an objection or obstacle

   he always makes difficulties

6. a trouble or source of trouble; worry

7. lack of ease; awkwardness

   he could run only with difficulty

Other Word Forms

• predifficulty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of difficulty¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English difficulte, from Anglo-French, from Latin difficultās, equivalent to difficil(is) difficile + -tās -ty ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of difficulty¹

C14: from Latin difficultās, from difficilis difficult, from dis- not + facilis easy, _facile

Example Sentences

"If they are not tough enough to deal with difficulties in opposition, they are not going to be tough enough to deal with difficulties in government."

From BBC

The new California screening is intended to identify children with reading difficulties who could benefit from additional help.

From Los Angeles Times

One difficulty is that consumers are somewhat fickle.

From BBC

One of Brooks’ persistent themes is that laypersons can’t grasp the difficulty of translating technological concepts into reality — that some problems are far more difficult to solve than their promoters admit.

From Los Angeles Times

She wanted advice from a specialist about specific tools to cope with difficulties but said she "was only offered group sessions, which as an autistic person, that's kind of your worst nightmare".

From BBC

Related Words

• anxiety 
• complication 
• crisis 
• embarrassment 
• frustration 
• inconvenience 
• misery 
• predicament 
• pressure 
• setback 
• stress 
• strife 
• struggle 
• trouble 
• worry