Synonyms for “Hard”

1. Abstract: disassociation from a practical reference that would aid in comprehension
2. Abstruse: difficult because of technical considerations
3. Arduous: great physical exertion
4. Augean: unpleasantly, overwhelmingly hard (a classical reference to the Augean stables, cleaned by Hercules as one of his legendary twelve labors)
5. Backbreaking: tiring and often dispiriting physical effort
6. Bruising: physically wearing and damaging
7. Brutal: unpleasantly difficult
8. Burdensome: physically or emotionally difficult
9. Challenging: requiring special effort; may have a positive or a negative sense depending on context


10. Complex: difficult because of multiple interrelated factors
11. Complicated: see complex
12. Convoluted: see complex; with an additional connotation of twisting or intertwining
13. Cruel: marked by uncompromising difficulty that disregards the worker’s welfare
14. Daunting: inspiring a feeling of great difficulty
15. Demanding: suggestive of a great commitment of time and effort
16. Distressing: causing emotional anguish
17. Effortful: requiring effort
18. Elusive: difficult to comprehend, or evasive
19. Exacting: requiring meticulous attention to detail, or requiring relentless effort
20. Exhausting: difficult in terms of physical or mental exertion
21. Formidable: discouraging because of expected difficulty; also has a positive connotation of impressiveness
22. Frustrating: producing feelings of hopelessness or defeat
23. Grievous: causing pain or suffering
24. Grim: evidencing unyielding difficulty or severity; can also mean “grim,” “gloomy,” or “sinister”
25. Grueling (also spelled gruelling): requiring unrelenting or extreme effort
26. Hairy: difficult (informal)
27. Harsh: excessively difficult
28. Heavy: involving great effort
29. Herculean: suggestive of great difficulty
30. Inhuman: so difficult as to seem beyond human capability
31. Insoluble: seemingly too difficult to be solved or resolved
32. Intimidating: so difficult that the task or prospect inspires fear or hopelessness
33. Intricate: see complex
34. Involved: see convoluted
35. Knotty: see convoluted
36. Labored: requiring wearying physical or mental exertion
37. Laborious: see labored
38. Merciless: marked by effort that seems to be required with no regard for the welfare of the worker
39. Moiling: requiring much effort
40. Murderous: suggestive of risk of physical or mental harm (informal)
41. Onerous: see burdensome
42. Opaque: difficult because of a lack of clarity or communication
43. Oppressive: harshly difficult
44. Overwhelming: too hard to do or bear without suffering
45. Painful: causing physical or mental discomfort or harm
46. Pick-and-shovel: suggestive of great manual effort
47-48. Problematic/problematical: difficulty in solving a problem
49. Punishing: difficulty heedless of consequences of physical or mental strain
50. Recondite: difficult to comprehend because of obscurity or the need to possess more knowledge
51. Rigid: inflexibly difficult
52. Rigorous: difficulty caused by conditions of inflexibility or requirements of great precision
53. Rugged: suggestive of conditions requiring strength and stamina
54. Serious: requiring a great deal of effort
55. Severe: difficult because of the nature of requirements or constraints or because of the need to expend great effort
56. Spiny: replete with difficulties
57. Sisyphean: suggestive of relentless, repetitive toil (a classical reference to Sisyphus, tormented in Hades by having to repeatedly roll a boulder up a hill, then retrieve it when it rolls down again)
58. Stiff: see rigid
59. Strenuous: see arduous
60. Stressful: so difficult as to cause tension or nervousness
61. Strict: difficult especially because of standards imposed
62. Stringent: see strict
63. Stubborn: persistently difficult
64. Sweaty: suggestive of great physical exertion, causing perspiration
65. Tall: see formidable (informal)
66. Taxing: see burdensome
67. Testing: calling for great effort, as if to test one’s abilities
68. Thorny: see spiny
69. Ticklish: difficult because of the problem’s sensitive nature
70. Tight: hard because of a lack of flexibility
71. Toilsome: see labored
72. Tough: physically or mentally demanding (informal)
73. Tricky: see ticklish
74. Trying: requiring great endurance
75. Uphill: see labored

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