ARDUOUS Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'arduous' different from other adjectives like it?

The words difficult and hard are common synonyms of arduous . While all three words mean "demanding great exertion or effort," arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion. // the arduous task of rebuilding

Q: When could 'difficult' be used to replace 'arduous'?

While in some cases nearly identical to arduous , 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

Q: When is it sensible to use 'hard' instead of 'arduous'?

The synonyms hard and arduous are sometimes interchangeable, but hard implies the opposite of all that is easy. // farming is hard work

arduous

adjective

ˈär-jə-wəs

Definition of arduous next

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort climbing Mount Everest is an arduous, exhausting challenge

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as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention the arduous task of doing the research for my term paper

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How is the word arduous different from other adjectives like it?

The words difficult and hard are common synonyms of arduous. While all three words mean "demanding great exertion or effort," arduous stresses the need of laborious and persevering exertion.

the arduous task of rebuilding

When could difficult be used to replace arduous?

While in some cases nearly identical to arduous, 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

When is it sensible to use hard instead of arduous?

The synonyms hard and arduous are sometimes interchangeable, but hard implies the opposite of all that is easy.

farming is hard work

Examples of arduous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The untitled project from the cinematographer-turned-director traces the odyssey of a Georgian family trying to make it to America via an arduous, three-week journey across Latin America. —

Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 17 Aug. 2024 Production on the show’s first season was long and arduous, and Caulfield apparently wasn’t having it. —

James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Aug. 2024 Feldman sometimes even visits the pools at 3:30 a.m., an arduous trek that rewards her with rare sightings of species that are active at night or at dawn and dusk. —

Jules Jacobs, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Aug. 2024 Depending on your physical abilities and tolerance for elevation, this long, arduous trail can take 10 hours or more. —

Estes Park Trail-Gazette, The Denver Post, 6 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for arduous

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'arduous.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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“Arduous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/arduous. Accessed 19 Sep. 2024.

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Last Updated: 11 Sep 2024 - Updated example sentences

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Synonyms of arduous

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