not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure; "a difficult task"; "nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access"; "difficult times"; "a difficult child"; "found himself in a difficult situation"; "why i ambitious, arduous, awkward, baffling, catchy, delicate, fractious, hard-fought, Herculean, nasty, rocky, rugged, stubborn, tall(a), thorny, troublesome, trying, vexed, serious requiring much effort and trouble; "the mountain climb was long, steep, and difficult" effortful |