- Hard to do or accomplish; demanding considerable effort or skill; arduous: “To entertain is far more difficult than to enlighten” (Anthony Burgess). See synonyms at hard.
- Hard to endure; trying: fell upon difficult times.
- Hard to comprehend or solve: a difficult puzzle.
- Hard to please, satisfy, or manage: a difficult child.
- Hard to persuade or convince; stubborn.
[Middle English, back-formation from difficulte, difficulty. See difficulty.]
difficultly dif'fi·cult'ly adv.






