dif·fi·cul·ty
(dĭf́ĭ-kŭĺtē, -kəl-)
[Middle English difficulte, from Old French dificulte, from Latin difficultās, from difficilis, difficult, dis-, dis-, + facilis, easy.]
noun: pl., -ties.
- The condition or quality of being difficult: the difficulty of a task.
- Something not easily done, accomplished, comprehended, or solved.
- A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs. Often used in the plural.
- A laborious effort; a struggle; trouble: had difficulty walking; completed the test with difficulty.
- A disagreement or dispute.
- Reluctance or an objection; unwillingness.
synonyms:
difficulty, hardship, rigor, vicissitude These nouns denote something that requires great effort to overcome: grappling with financial difficulties; a life of hardship; undergoing the rigors of prison; withstood the vicissitudes of an army career.
