Better Ways to Say Difficult

Hello, English learners! Are you looking for better ways to say difficult in English? Although difficult is a useful word, using it repeatedly can make your speaking and writing sound rather limited.

In this lesson, you will learn 11 natural synonyms and expressions for describing difficult tasks, experiences and situations, with clear meanings and practical examples.

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11 Better Ways to Say Difficult in English

Arduous

Meaning: requiring a great deal of time, energy or physical effort

We commonly use arduous to describe journeys, tasks, processes and training.

• Fiona undertook the arduous task of restoring a century-old house.
• The climbers faced an arduous journey through the mountains.

Common collocations: an arduous task, an arduous journey, an arduous process, arduous work

Challenging

Meaning: difficult in a way that tests your abilities and may also be interesting or rewarding

Unlike some other words in this lesson, challenging often has a positive meaning.

• Supporting learners with additional needs can be challenging but extremely rewarding.
• Cycling along the forest trail is challenging, even for experienced riders.

Common collocations: a challenging job, a challenging task, a challenging situation, a challenging course

Demanding

Meaning: requiring a great deal of skill, energy, attention or responsibility

We often use demanding when something requires continuous effort.

• Gemma’s demanding career left her very little time for her family.
• Being a doctor is both demanding and rewarding.

Common collocations: a demanding job, a demanding schedule, a demanding role, physically demanding

Hard

Meaning: requiring effort or causing difficulty, pain or worry

Hard is one of the most common everyday alternatives to difficult. It can describe tasks, experiences and periods of life.

• It was hard to concentrate because of the noise.
• Raising a child on your own can be extremely hard.

Be careful: we normally say a hard task, but a difficult situation often sounds more natural than a hard situation.

Daunting

Meaning: seeming so difficult, complicated or frightening that you feel unsure about doing it

A task may be manageable, but it can still feel daunting before you begin.

• Sally faced the daunting task of preparing dinner for twenty guests.
• Starting a new career can feel daunting at first.

Common collocations: a daunting task, a daunting challenge, a daunting prospect

Tough

Meaning: difficult to deal with, endure or complete

Tough is common in everyday English and can describe emotional, practical or physical difficulties.

• Sandra had a tough childhood after losing her parents at a young age.
• Living abroad without your family can be really tough.

Common collocations: a tough decision, a tough time, a tough year, a tough challenge

Onerous

Meaning: involving duties or responsibilities that are difficult, unpleasant or burdensome

Onerous is more formal than difficult and is often used in business, legal and professional contexts.

• The contract placed several onerous conditions on the company.
• Small businesses often struggle with onerous administrative requirements.

Common collocations: onerous conditions, onerous duties, an onerous responsibility, an onerous burden

Rough

Meaning: difficult, unpleasant or uncomfortable

In informal English, rough is often used to describe periods, experiences and situations.

• George had a rough time during the mountain expedition.
• My first year at university was rough, but things gradually improved.

Common collocations: a rough day, a rough week, a rough time, a rough period

Easier Said Than Done

Meaning: appearing simple when discussed but being much more difficult to do in reality

We use this expression when someone suggests a solution that sounds easy but is not easy to put into practice.

• Finding an affordable flat in London is easier said than done.
• Staying calm during an important exam is often easier said than done.

You can also use it as a complete response:

“You should simply stop worrying.”

“That’s easier said than done.”

Full of Twists and Turns

Meaning: complicated and unpredictable, with many unexpected changes

This expression does not mean exactly the same as difficult, but it is useful for describing complicated stories, journeys, relationships and life experiences.

• Mel’s career has been full of twists and turns.
• Their journey was full of twists and turns, but they eventually reached their destination.

Common contexts: a story, a career, a journey, a relationship, an investigation

Full of Hardships

Meaning: containing many serious difficulties, struggles or periods of suffering

This is a more formal and serious expression. We often use it when talking about someone’s life, career or journey.

• Their journey across the country was full of hardships.
• Her early life was full of hardships, but she never gave up.

The singular form hardship is often used after words such as suffering, financial or economic:

• Many families are experiencing financial hardship.
• The war caused enormous suffering and hardship.

Choosing the Right Alternative

arduous	tasks, journeys and processes requiring great effort
challenging	difficulties that test you and may be rewarding
demanding	work or activities requiring skill, energy or attention
hard	general everyday difficulties
daunting	something that feels intimidating before you begin
tough	difficult experiences, periods and decisions
onerous	burdensome duties, conditions and responsibilities
rough	unpleasant experiences or difficult periods
easier said than done	ideas that sound simple but are difficult in practice
full of twists and turns	complicated and unpredictable situations
full of hardships	serious struggles and suffering

Common Mistakes

Difficult or difficulty?

Difficult is an adjective:

• It was a difficult exam.
• The question was difficult to answer.

Difficulty is a noun:

• I had difficulty answering the question.
• She experienced financial difficulties.

Hard or hardly?

These two words have very different meanings.

Hard means with a lot of effort or difficult:

• She worked hard.
• It was a hard decision.

Hardly means almost not:

• She hardly slept.
• I could hardly hear him.

Challenging does not always mean negative

A challenging experience may be difficult, but it can also be enjoyable, useful or rewarding.

• Learning another language is challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding.

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Final Thoughts

Using a wider range of vocabulary allows you to describe exactly what kind of difficulty you mean. Instead of calling every experience difficult, decide whether it was daunting, demanding, arduous, tough or simply rough.

Choose two or three expressions from this lesson and write your own examples. That small step will make the vocabulary much easier to remember—and, as ever, learning it is one thing; using it naturally is where the real adventure begins.

Related posts:

• B2 First Vocabulary
• C1 Advanced Vocabulary 
• 15 Ways to Say “It’s Easy”
• Phrasal Verbs for Difficult Situations 
• Word Formation for B2 First 
• 10 Better Ways to Say Useful 

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