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n. pl. dif·fi·cul·ties 1. The condition or quality of being difficult: the difficulty of a task. 2. Something not easily done, accomplished, comprehended, or solved: We face a difficulty that requires unconventional thinking. 3. often difficulties A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs: lost his job and found himself in difficulties. 4. A disagreement or dispute: a company trying to settle difficulties with labor. [Middle English difficulte, from Old French dificulte, from Latin difficultās, from difficilis, difficult : dis-, dis- + facilis, easy; see dhē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] Synonyms: difficulty, hardship, rigor, vicissitude These nouns denote something that requires great effort to overcome: grappling with financial difficulties; the hardships endured by the settlers; undergoing the rigors of prison; withstood the vicissitudes of an army career. |
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