difficulty

[ dif-i-kuhl-tee, -kuhl-tee ]

/ ˈdɪf ɪˌkʌl ti, -kəl ti /

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See synonyms for: difficulty / difficulties 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR difficulty

2 dilemma, predicament, quandary, plight, fix, exigency, strait.

3 problem.

See synonyms for difficulty on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of difficulty

1350–1400; Middle English difficulte (<Anglo-French ) <Latin difficultās, equivalent to difficil(is) difficile + -tās-ty²

OTHER WORDS FROM difficulty

pre·dif·fi·cul·ty, noun, plural pre·dif·fi·cul·ties.

Words nearby difficulty

differentiator, differently, different strokes for different folks, difficile, difficult, difficulty, diffidence, diffident, diffidently, diffluence, diffluent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use difficulty in a sentence

She couldn't even explain the difficulty, just that it was hard.
My mother and her friends couldn’t get coronavirus vaccine appointments, so they turned to a stranger for help. He’s 13.|Greg Harris|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
The importance and difficulty of playing the position have never been questioned, nor has the scarcity of elite talent.
The NFL’s top QBs are waking up to their power, following Tom Brady and LeBron James|Jerry Brewer|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
“People with big faces may have difficulty getting the mask to cover their nose and mouth completely when they do the knot, so you really have to look around and find a technique that works well for you,” Brooks said.
Masks should fit better or be doubled up to protect against coronavirus variants, CDC says|Lena H. Sun, Fenit Nirappil|February 11, 2021|Washington Post
Even so, the recall might have gone nowhere had it not been for a judge’s decision to give organizers almost double the normal amount of time to collect signatures in light of the difficulties posed by the pandemic.
California’s Gavin Newsom Will Likely Face A Recall Election — But He’ll Probably Survive It|Geoffrey Skelley (geoffrey.skelley@abc.com)|February 10, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

Without some clarity and long-term planning, brands could face more difficulty going forward.
Marketing Briefing: How the Super Bowl represents a return to normalcy that’s yet to become reality|Kristina Monllos|February 9, 2021|Digiday
The difficulty with Mr. Redford is, you see, as I understand it, he gets one million dollars a picture.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days|David Freeman|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I do realize the difficulty in totally canceling productions of this opera.
Rudy Giuliani: Why I Protested ‘The Death of Klinghoffer’|Rudy Giuliani|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The battle to secure that funding is testament to the difficulty in making truly independent movies.
Mike Leigh Is the Master Filmmaker Who Hates Hollywood|Nico Hines|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Mary and Tom are concerned for Cumming, too, “as in the past there has been difficulty.”
Alan Cumming: The Truth About My Father|Tim Teeman|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The fewer diagnostic criteria required to call a person impaired, the more “any difficulty whatsoever” can be deemed impairment.
Daydreaming Is Not a Disorder|Russell Saunders|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But,” said the prime minister of Flatland, starting a difficulty, “who is to be greatest chief?
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne
The difficulty of educating handlers of bills in distant places as to American credits.
Readings in Money and Banking|Chester Arthur Phillips
The Duke found no difficulty in awakening the wishes, which were necessary to his scheme, in the mind of young Lorraine.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4|Jane Porter
Add to this, if you please, the great difficulty of obtaining from them even the words that they have.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Judge for yourself the difficulty surrounding the remainder of the symbols and fundamental truths of christianity.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various

British Dictionary definitions for difficulty

difficulty

/ (ˈdɪfɪkəltɪ) /

noun plural -ties

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 obstaclehe always makes difficulties

a trouble or source of trouble; worry

lack of ease; awkwardnesshe could run only with difficulty

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

difficulty

OTHER WORDS FOR difficulty

Origin of difficulty

OTHER WORDS FROM difficulty

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How to use difficulty in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for difficulty

Word Origin for difficulty