difficulty
NounWordNet 3.0
Noun (4)
- an effort that is inconvenient“I went to a lot of trouble”“he won without any trouble”“had difficulty walking”“finished the test only with great difficulty”Synonyms: trouble
- a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result“serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent”
- a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome“grappling with financial difficulties”
- the quality of being difficult“they agreed about the difficulty of the climb”Synonyms: difficultness
Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)
1.The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; -- opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty. [1913 Webster]
Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the difficulty of the region.— James Byrne.[1913 Webster]
2.Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill and perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology. [1913 Webster]
They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure.— Addison.[1913 Webster]
3.A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil. [1913 Webster]
Measures for terminating all local difficulties.— Bancroft.[1913 Webster]
4.Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; -- usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties. [1913 Webster]
In days of difficulty and pressure.— Tennyson.
Syn: Impediment; obstacle; obstruction; embarrassment; perplexity; exigency; distress; trouble; trial; objection; cavil. See Impediment. [1913 Webster]