Definition of DIFFICULTY

difficulty

Meanings

Plural: difficulties

Noun

  • an effort that is inconvenient
    • "had difficulty walking"
    • "finished the test only with great difficulty"
  • a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result
  • a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome
  • the quality of being difficult
    • "they agreed about the difficulty of the climb"
  • The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
  • An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
  • Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
  • An objection.
  • That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
  • An awkward situation or quarrel.

Origin / Etymology

From Middle English difficulte, from Middle French and Anglo-Norman difficulte and their etymon Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile and difficult. Equivalent to dis- + facile + -ty. Also analysable as difficult + -y, though the adjective is historically a backformation from the noun.

Antonyms

ease

Scrabble Score: 22

difficulty is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
difficulty is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
difficulty is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 24

difficulty is a valid Words With Friends word