difficulty
Americannoun
plural
difficulties-
the fact or condition of being difficult.
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Often difficulties. an embarrassing situation, especially of financial affairs.
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a trouble or struggle.
- Synonyms:
- problem
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a cause of trouble, struggle, or embarrassment.
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a disagreement or dispute.
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reluctance; unwillingness.
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a demur; objection.
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something that is hard to do, understand, or surmount; an impediment or obstacle.
noun
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the state or quality of being difficult
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a task, problem, etc, that is hard to deal with
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(often plural) a troublesome or embarrassing situation, esp a financial one
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a dispute or disagreement
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(often plural) an objection or obstacle
he always makes difficulties
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a trouble or source of trouble; worry
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lack of ease; awkwardness
he could run only with difficulty
Other Word Forms
- predifficulty noun
Etymology
Origin of difficulty
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English difficulte, from Anglo-French, from Latin difficultās, equivalent to difficil(is) difficile + -tās -ty 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Where the ancient sources are rich or pose few difficulties, Mr. Elliott’s account is lively; he is more liable to falter where evidence is in shorter supply or when he ranges beyond the Severan age.
The point Currie was making was that markets seem not to comprehend the logistical difficulties involved in moving different types of oil around, and the disruption it causes.
From MarketWatch
The UK's steel industry has faced major financial difficulties in recent years due to high energy prices, increased tariffs and a glut of steel globally.
From BBC
The elementary school was only a block and a half away, it was true, and Nollie had gone there two years without difficulty.
From Literature
While flagging inflation risks from the Middle East conflict, the central bank also emphasized that the economy is sputtering and having difficulty absorbing excess slack.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
