Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
difficult (adjective)1.
hard to do, make, or carry out - arduous a difficult climb
2.
a) hard to deal with, manage, or overcome - a difficult child
b) hard to understand - puzzling difficult reading hard
Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus
difficult (adjective)1.
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
SYNONIMS:
arduous, Augean, backbreaking, challenging, demanding, difficult, effortful, exacting, formidable, grueling ( gruelling), heavy, hellacious, herculean, killer, laborious, moiling, murderous, pick-and-shovel, rigorous, rough, rugged, severe, stiff, strenuous, sweaty, tall, testing, toilsome, tough, uphillRELATED WORDS:
abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, elusive, hairy, insoluble, intricate, involved, knotty, opaque, problematic ( problematical), recondite, serious, spiny, stubborn, thorny, ticklish, tricky; bruising, burdensome, exhausting, labored, onerous, oppressive, stressful, taxing, tight, trying; annoying, bothersome, distressing, irksome, troublesome, vexatious; grievous, grim, strict, stringent; brutal, cruel, inhuman, painfulNEAR ANTONYMS:
achievable, clear, doable, elementary, manageable, uncomplicated; comforting, gentle, painless, relaxed, smooth, soothing; accessible, friendly, idiotproof, user-friendly2.
requiring exceptional skill or caution in performance or handling
SYNONIMS:
catchy, delicate, difficult, dodgy, hairy, knotty, nasty, prickly, problematic ( problematical), sensitive, spiny, sticky, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, tricksyRELATED WORDS:
abstract, abstruse, complex, complicated, hard, intricate, involved, recondite, serious; problem, scabrous, stubborn, troublesome, troublous, vexatious, vexing, worrisome; burdensome, demanding, discommoding, exacting, exhausting, importunate, inconvenient, onerous, oppressive, painful, stressfulNEAR ANTONYMS:
easy, effortless, manageable, painless, simple, straightforward, uncomplicated, undemanding, unproblematic