Another word for difficult
The best other words for difficult are challenging, problematic, finicky and opaque.
- Most formal
- abstruse, arduous, problematic
- Strongest
- abstruse, demanding, arduous
- Casual
- tough, hard, tricky
- Instead of “quite difficult”
- rather hard, pretty hard, fairly hard
Difficult /ˈdɪfɪkəlt/ (adjective): Not easy to do, understand, deal with, or endure. In simple words: Not easy to do, deal with, understand, or please. Below are 25 rated synonyms across 4 senses, plus 33 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
26 synonyms shown
Hard to do · adjective
requiring effort or skill
Hard to deal with · adjective
uncooperative, troublesome, or awkward
Hard to please · adjective
strict, fussy, or demanding in judgment
Hard to understand · adjective
not easy to comprehend or interpret
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- challenging — slightly more positive; emphasizes worthwhile effort
- complicated — hard because of many parts or steps
- tough — more informal and practical sounding
The dashed ring marks “difficult” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for difficult in your sentence
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How to choose
Use difficult as the safest general word, and choose a synonym based on whether you mean effort, handling, or understanding. In formal writing, challenging, demanding, problematic, and opaque often sound more precise than difficult.
Antonyms of difficult
- easy
- simple
- straightforward
- manageable
- clear
- obvious
- effortless
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| challenging | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| tough | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| hard | 3/5 | slang | casual |
| demanding | 4/5 | neutral | academic, business |
| arduous | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| tricky | 2/5 | casual | casual, business |
| complicated | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| problematic | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| awkward | 2/5 | casual | business, casual |
| troublesome | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| unwieldy | 3/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| messy | 2/5 | casual | casual, business |
| sticky | 2/5 | casual | casual, business |
| particular | 2/5 | neutral | business, casual |
| fussy | 3/5 | casual | casual |
| picky | 2/5 | slang | casual |
| finicky | 3/5 | neutral | casual, business |
| exacting | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| fastidious | 4/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| opaque | 3/5 | formal | academic, business |
| obscure | 3/5 | formal | academic, creative |
| cryptic | 4/5 | neutral | academic, creative, casual |
| puzzling | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| unclear | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| abstruse | 5/5 | academic | academic, creative |
Instead of “very difficult”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| quite difficult | rather hard, pretty hard, fairly hard |
| very difficult | extremely hard, really hard, exceptionally hard |
| somewhat difficult | a bit hard, fairly hard, a little hard |
More words related to difficult
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “difficult”.
- hard-to-do
- laborious
- onerous
- taxing
- strenuous
- painstaking
- exhausting
- daunting
- formidable
- involved
- intricate
- convoluted
- elusive
- perplexing
- bewildering
- confusing
- uncertain
- problem-ridden
- rough
- bothersome
- inconvenient
- uncooperative
- temperamental
- unmanageable
- hard to handle
- hard to work with
- hard to get along with
- hard to figure out
- not easy
- not straightforward
- a challenge
- a struggle
- a pain
Questions about synonyms for difficult
What is the most formal or academic synonym for difficult?
It depends on the sense. For something hard to understand, abstruse is highly formal and academic; for something hard to deal with, problematic or opaque may fit better. In many academic contexts, challenging is also preferred because it sounds measured rather than negative.
What is a stronger or milder alternative to difficult?
For a milder alternative, challenging is often the best choice because it sounds less negative and sometimes even positive. For a stronger alternative, arduous, exacting, or abstruse can sound more intense, depending on whether you mean effort, strictness, or comprehension.
When should I avoid using difficult repeatedly?
Avoid repeating difficult when you need to distinguish between different kinds of hardness. Replace it with words like demanding, troublesome, or obscure so readers can tell whether the problem is effort, inconvenience, or comprehension.
What is a more professional word for difficult?
Professional choices depend on the context. For tasks, words like "challenging," "demanding," or "formidable" often sound more formal than "difficult."
What is a stronger word for difficult?
Stronger options include "formidable," "taxing," "onerous," and "daunting." The best choice depends on whether you mean something is hard to do, hard to deal with, or hard to understand.