difficult

Something needs a lot of effort or skill to do or understand.

• This question is difficult.
• We had a difficult journey home.
• Is it difficult to learn Japanese?

How to use it: difficult to do something (This book is difficult to read.); difficult for someone (The climb was difficult for us.); find something difficult (I find spelling difficult.)

Similar words: hard, challenging

Opposites: easy

Common phrases: difficult question, difficult task, difficult to understand

Someone refuses to help or behaves in a way that causes problems.

• Please stop being difficult.
• He can be difficult when tired.
• The staff handled a difficult customer calmly.

How to use it: difficult to deal with (Some customers are difficult to deal with.)

Similar words: uncooperative, troublesome

Opposites: cooperative

Common phrases: difficult customer, be difficult, difficult child