Difficult definition

dĭfĭ-kŭlt, -kəlt

Not easy to please, satisfy, or manage.

A difficult child.

adjective

Hard, not easy, requiring much effort.

adjective

(often of a person, or a horse, etc) Hard to manage, uncooperative, troublesome.

Stop being difficult and eat your broccoli—you know it's good for you.

adjective

(obsolete) To make difficult; to impede; to perplex.

verb

The definition of difficult is something that is hard to understand or do and is a person that is hard to get along with.

An example of difficult is a very complicated calculus problem.

An example of difficult is a person who is critical all the time and never pleased.

adjective

Hard to satisfy, persuade, please, etc.

adjective

Hard to do, make, manage, understand, etc.; requiring extra effort, skill, or thought.

adjective

Having or characterized by difficulties or troubles.

Stocks holding up despite a difficult economy.

adjective

Not easy to persuade or convince; stubborn.

adjective

Not easy to endure; full of hardship or trouble; trying.

Fell upon difficult times.

adjective

Not easy to comprehend, solve, or explain.

A difficult puzzle.

adjective

Requiring considerable effort or skill; not easy to do or accomplish.

adjective

Origin of difficult

Middle English back-formation from difficulte difficulty difficulty

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From difficulty, from Middle English difficultee, from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile.

From Wiktionary