Difficulty

Definition

Difficulty is a noun that refers to the state or condition of being challenging or hard to accomplish, understand, or deal with. It can denote obstacles, challenges, or levels of complexity in various contexts.

Parts of Speech

• Noun

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɪfɪˌkʌlti/
• Respelling: DIF-ih-kul-tee

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /ˈdɪfɪˌkʌlti/
• Respelling: DIF-ih-kul-tee

Etymology

The word "difficulty" originates from the Latin "difficultas," which is derived from "difficilis," meaning "hard" or "not easy." The term entered Middle English in the 14th century, keeping its meaning of challenge or obstruction.

Derivatives

• Difficult (adjective)
• Difficultly (adverb)
• Indifficult (adjective, rare)
• Difficulty level (noun phrase)
• Undifficult (adjective, rare)

Synonyms

• Challenge
• Obstacle
• Hardship

Antonyms

• Ease
• Simplicity
• Effortlessness

Usage

The noun "difficulty" is commonly used to describe challenging situations, as in "He faced great difficulties during the project." It is also used to refer to levels of challenge in games, tasks, or exams, such as "The test was of moderate difficulty."

Related Terms

• Challenge: A task or problem that requires significant effort to overcome.
• Effort: The amount of physical or mental energy exerted to accomplish something.
• Complexity: The quality of being intricate or complicated.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• The state or quality of being difficult: Refers to the characteristic of something that requires significant effort or skill to complete or understand.
  • Example: "The course is known for its high difficulty."
• A thing that is hard to accomplish, deal with, or understand: Indicates specific obstacles, problems, or challenges encountered in a task.
  • Example: "They encountered several difficulties while climbing the mountain."
• A level of challenge or complexity: Used to describe the measure of how challenging an activity or task is.
  • Example: "The game offers multiple difficulty levels for players."