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#1
Is the adverb of difficult, difficulty? I thought that adverbs take LY at the end, but it doesn’t exist «difficultly», only «difficulty» but it says it’s a noun. So… does difficult has an adverb? I hope you guys can help me
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#2
does difficult have an adverb?
No. We say ‘with difficulty’ or ‘in a difficult fashion’.
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#3
If you want an adverb, you can use laboriously, which means with great difficulty.
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#4
Thank you very much to both of you. e2efour I’ll use laboriously Thank you!!! And Wandle, I don’t know what the heck I was thinking with that «has» lol Thank you!
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#5
It wouldn’t be English if you didn’t have more than one choice. The word that comes to my mind is arduously.
This page from englishforums.com
argues that laboriously has a connotation of «dull and repetitive effort,» and I agree.
There are, of course, other choices as well, with selection dependent upon context.
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#6
Difficultly has an entry in the OED. (entry last updated 1895)
1
- 1875 J. Ruskin Fors Clavigera V. l. 37 The difficultly reconcileable merits of old times and new things. 1879 F. Rutley Study of Rocks x. 87 Labradorite fuses readily..anorthite is more difficultly fusible.
- 1875 A. Swinbourne Pict. Logic ix. 58 Things seem to me to be put so difficultly in books.
- 1872 C. King Mountaineering Sierra Nevada iv. 88 We found the ice-angle difficultly steep; but made our way successfully along its edge.
- 1886 P. O. Hutchinson Diary T. Hutchinson II. 430 These unfortunate people were very difficultly placed.
with a second, obsolete, meaning
Difficult is an adjective. There is no adverb like «difficultly». If you want an adverb there is «laboriously» or «arduously» or you can use «with difficulty»
Your sentence is not grammatically correct, here are better examples:
The solution to this question should not be more difficult to obtain than that to the other question.
The solution to this question should not be obtained with more difficulty than that to the other question.
The solution to this question should not be obtained more laboriously than that to the other question.
Edit:
Following the comments, here’s an example of an easier sentence:
«Obtaining the answer to this question should not be more difficult than obtaining the one to the other question»
I used «answer» here, which is more friendly with «question». «Solution» would be more appropriate for a «problem»
Hope that helps you to understand
1
: hard to do, make, or carry out : arduous
2
a
: hard to deal with, manage, or overcome
having a difficult time coping with her death
b
: hard to understand : puzzling
found calculus too difficult
Synonyms
Choose the Right Synonym for difficult
difficult implies the presence of obstacles to be surmounted or puzzles to be resolved and suggests the need of skill or courage.
the difficult ascent of the mountain
arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.
the arduous task of rebuilding
Example Sentences
We were asked lots of difficult questions.
I had to make a very difficult decision.
We’ll be hiking over difficult terrain.
It’s more difficult than it sounds.
I found myself in a difficult position.
Some difficult days lie ahead of us.
These changes will make life difficult for everyone involved.
See More
Recent Examples on the Web
There are numerous complex machines such as jet engines, steam turbines and many others that can be difficult to research and understand just by looking at sheets of paper.
—
Abhinand Chincholi, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
The credits would also be capped to the amount of capital expenditures made by oil producers, which has a difficult-to-determine revenue impact.
—Sean Maguire, Anchorage Daily News, 26 Mar. 2023
Our thoughts are with Vaughn’s wife, Lisa, and his kids Victoria, Cameron, and Vaughn Henry in this extraordinarily difficult time.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 26 Mar. 2023
For other clubs, the world Cohen has created, or at least accelerated, can be difficult to explain to fans, who wonder why their rich-but-not-Cohen-rich owners cannot afford better players.
—Kate Kelly, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2023
Finding examples of extremism, a lust for authoritarian leaders, and general antidemocratic beliefs in America is not difficult these days—just spend a few minutes online.
—WIRED, 26 Mar. 2023
On one often-difficult subject, immigration, Biden and Trudeau used the visit to announce an agreement aiming to stem the flow of asylum seekers at unofficial border crossings from the U.S. to Canada.
—Josh Boak And Rob Gillies, ajc, 25 Mar. 2023
Controlling Callery pears is difficult because their sturdy, extensive root system makes the trees almost impossible to kill with herbicides.
—Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 25 Mar. 2023
Finding a backpack tote that can pass the test in a professional setting can be difficult, but the Cole Haan Grand Ambition Convertible Backpack gets the job done.
—Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 24 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word ‘difficult.’ Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English, probably back-formation from difficulte difficulty
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of difficult was
in the 14th century
Dictionary Entries Near difficult
Cite this Entry
“Difficult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/difficult. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023.
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More from Merriam-Webster on difficult
Last Updated:
30 Mar 2023
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
Asked by: Stewart Adams
Score: 4.4/5
(39 votes)
The state of being difficult, or hard to do. An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
Is difficult a noun or verb?
hard, not easy, requiring much effort.
What’s the noun for difficult?
1[countable, usually plural, uncountable] a problem; a thing or situation that causes problems the difficulties of English syntax children with severe learning difficulties We’ve run into difficulties/difficulty with the new project. He got into difficulties while swimming and had to be rescued.
Can difficulty be used as a noun?
noun, plural dif·fi·cul·ties. the fact or condition of being difficult. Often difficul·ties.
Is difficult an abstract noun?
Explanation: Abstract noun refers to a thing that has no physical form. … the abstract noun for difficult is difficulty.
43 related questions found
Is unique an abstract noun?
Explanation: Abstract noun are the names / nouns which cannot be seen or touched. It has no physical existence. … Abstract noun of unique is uniqueness.
Is true an abstract noun?
Answer and Explanation: The abstract noun of true is truth. The abstract noun of true is formed by adding the suffix -th and dropping the e. Other abstract nouns ending in -th include youth and faith.
What is the verb of difficult?
Verb. difficult (third-person singular simple present difficults, present participle difficulting, simple past and past participle difficulted)
What are the difficult words?
As a follow up to our article on confusing words, here are ten of the most difficult words in English.
- Literally. If you know a language purist, watch out. …
- Ironic. …
- Irregardless (instead of regardless) …
- Whom. …
- Colonel. …
- Nonplussed. …
- Disinterested. …
- Enormity.
What is the adjective for height?
Very elevated; extending or being far above a base; tall; lofty. Pertaining to (or, especially of a language: spoken in) in an area which is at a greater elevation, for example more mountainous, than other regions.
What is the adjective for difficult?
Hard, not easy, requiring much effort. (often of a person, or a horse, etc) Hard to manage, uncooperative, troublesome. (obsolete) Unable or unwilling.
What’s the hardest word?
The Most Difficult English Word To Pronounce
- Colonel.
- Penguin.
- Sixth.
- Isthmus.
- Anemone.
- Squirrel.
- Choir.
- Worcestershire.
What kind of noun is sadness?
The state or emotion of being sad. An event in one’s life that causes sadness.
Is difficult a adverb?
Senior Member. does difficult have an adverb? No. We say ‘with difficulty’ or ‘in a difficult fashion’.
What is a adjective for good?
great, satisfying, exceptional, positive, acceptable, satisfactory, valuable, superb, marvelous, bad, wonderful, favorable, excellent, respectable, honest, useful, talented, efficient, reliable, able.
What is noun of enjoy?
enjoy is a verb, enjoyable is an adjective, enjoyment is a noun:I enjoy old movies.
What are the 5 longest words?
Here’s how Merriam-Webster defines the ten longest words in the English language.
- Floccinaucinihilipilification (29 letters) …
- Antidisestablishmentarianism (28 letters) …
- Honorificabilitudinitatibus (27 letters) …
- Thyroparathyroidectomized (25 letters) …
- Dichlorodifluoromethane (23 letters) …
- Incomprehensibilities (21 letters)
What are the 5 unfamiliar words?
5 unfamiliar words with meaning and example
- Conduct: Personal behavior. …
- Scarce: Insufficient to satisfy the need. …
- Appoint: Assign to a position. …
- Level: Having no part higher than another. …
- Convince: To move by argument. …
- Inspire: To fill with an animating. …
- Know: To see or comprehend as reality or truth.
What are the 20 difficult words?
20 Most Difficult Words to Pronounce in the English Language
- Colonel.
- Worcestershire.
- Mischievous.
- Draught.
- Quinoa.
- Onomatopoeia.
- Scissors.
- Anemone.
What is a superlative adjective for difficult?
We use “more” and “the most” when the adjective has many syllables, e.g. more difficult than (comparative), the most difficult (superlative).
Is Difficultest a word?
Definitions for difficultest. dif·fi·cul·test.
What is the superlative adjective for interesting?
1. grammar : of or relating to the form of an adjective or adverb that is used to indicate the greatest degree of a particular quality. The superlative form of “nice” is “nicest”; the superlative form of “bad” is “worst”; the superlative form of “interesting” is “most interesting.”
Is Lazy an abstract noun?
The abstract noun of lazy is ‘laziness‘.
Is love an abstract noun?
Remember, abstract nouns identify something immaterial and abstract, which means we cannot see, taste, hear, touch, or smell it. For example, the word love is an abstract noun.
What words are abstract nouns?
Love, fear, anger, joy, excitement, and other emotions are abstract nouns. Courage, bravery, cowardice, and other such states are abstract nouns. Desire, creativity, uncertainty, and other innate feelings are abstract nouns. These are just a few examples of non-concrete words that are sensed.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Best Answer
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No. Difficult is an adjective. There is an adverb form,
difficultly.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
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It is exceedingly difficult to ascertain precisely what is meant by the word ‘culture’.
That is a sentence from exercise for English learners where they are asked to determine the part of speech of the word in bold. My decision was that difficult is an adverb in this context because of an adverbial meaning but the author writes that this is an adjective. Who is in the right?
Answer
The author is correct in saying it as an adjective. The word in this sentence is a predicate adjective. Is is a linking verb, so the word will either be a predicate nominative or a predicate adjective. In this case, it is describing the pronoun it so it is an adjective. It is difficult.
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Source : Link , Question Author : Aer , Answer Author : Element115
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- British
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
[ dif-i-kuhlt, -kuhlt ]
/ ˈdɪf ɪˌkʌlt, -kəlt /
This shows grade level based on the word’s complexity.
adjective
not easily or readily done; requiring much labor, skill, or planning to be performed successfully; hard: a difficult job.
hard to understand or solve: a difficult problem.
hard to deal with or get on with: a difficult pupil.
hard to please or satisfy: a difficult employer.
hard to persuade or induce; stubborn: a difficult old man.
disadvantageous; trying; hampering: The operation was performed under the most difficult conditions.
fraught with hardship, especially financial hardship: We saw some difficult times during the depression years.
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Which sentence is correct?
Origin of difficult
1350–1400; Middle English, back formation from difficulty
synonym study for difficult
OTHER WORDS FROM difficult
dif·fi·cult·ly, adverbnon·dif·fi·cult, adjectivequa·si-dif·fi·cult, adjectivequa·si-dif·fi·cult·ly, adverb
su·per·dif·fi·cult, adjectivesu·per·dif·fi·cult·ly, adverbun·dif·fi·cult, adjectiveun·dif·fi·cult·ly, adverb
Words nearby difficult
differentiation, differentiator, differently, different strokes for different folks, difficile, difficult, difficulty, diffidence, diffident, diffidently, diffluence
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Words related to difficult
ambitious, arduous, burdensome, challenging, crucial, demanding, laborious, onerous, painful, problematic, severe, strenuous, tough, troublesome, complex, confusing, delicate, grim, intractable, backbreaker
How to use difficult in a sentence
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These are difficult conversations that aren’t going to go away whether or not we play the national anthem.
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It’s really difficult to do a cost-benefit analysis when you can’t quantify the benefits, which is the case with rotational-energy protection systems.
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That would make it much more difficult to operate a site like Yelp, which relies on having negative user content that people that it’s about would want taken down.
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Under normal circumstances, with a defeated incumbent president, it is difficult for a party to change.
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The Washington Football Team is also in need of a quarterback, but it’s difficult to imagine an intra-divisional trade.
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The choice between freedom and fear is not difficult when seen with perspective.
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Although Huckabee’s condescending tone — like that of an elementary school history teacher — makes it difficult to take seriously.
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That makes it incredibly difficult to determine the effects of airstrikes, for example.
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Being the first to declare feelings is incredibly difficult.
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White rappers are always difficult to comprehend, difficult to deal with.
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In the early stages of chronic nephritis, when diagnosis is difficult, it is usually normal.
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It was difficult, with the mean appliances of the time, to wring subsistence from the reluctant earth.
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It was difficult to describe—a little sterner, a little wilder, a faint emphasis of the barbaric peering through it.
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Ajoutez cecy, s’il vous plaist, la grande difficult qu’il y a de tirer d’eux les mots mesmes qu’ils ont.
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Numbers have dribbled back from firing line and cannot be collected in this difficult country.
British Dictionary definitions for difficult
adjective
not easy to do; requiring efforta difficult job
not easy to understand or solve; intricatea difficult problem
hard to deal with; troublesomea difficult child
not easily convinced, pleased, or satisfieda difficult audience
full of hardships or trialsdifficult times ahead
Derived forms of difficult
difficultly, adverb
Word Origin for difficult
C14: back formation from difficulty
Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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