difficult

/ˈdi-fi-(ˌ)kəlt/

Middle English, probably back-formation from difficulte difficulty

adjective

  1. hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous

  2. hard to deal with, manage, or overcome

  3. hard to understand : puzzling

a difficult climb

hard difficult arduous mean demanding great exertion or effort. hard implies the opposite of all that is easy. difficult implies the presence of obstacles to be surmounted or puzzles to be resolved and suggests the need of skill or courage.