Difficult-Hard | Commonly Confused Words
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Difficult vs. Hard

Difficult

/ˈdɪfɪkəlt/
Not easy to do or understand; causing problems or inconvenience

Examples:

It would not be difficult.Now he found it difficult to understand other people's feelings.Monsieur Lheureux, the draper, was especially difficult.

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Hard

/hɑːd/
Difficult to do or understand; solid and firm

Examples:

They slam me harder against the wall.He was a hard man, and his answer was unfriendly.Helm alee - hard aport!

Synonyms:

Antonyms:

Ways to tell them apart:

etymology
  • Remember that hard often refers to the physical state of something (like a hard surface), while difficult generally refers to the level of challenge or complexity.
  • Use hard when describing something that requires effort or might be tough to achieve, but often has a tangible or concrete aspect.
  • Difficult is more frequently used for complex challenges, puzzles, or situations that are mentally challenging.
  • Hard can also be an adverb, as in working hard, but difficult does not have this flexibility.
  • Difficult is more formal when describing an arduous situation compared to hard.
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