Basic Details
Word: Difficulty
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: The state of being hard to do or understand; also a problem or something that causes trouble.
Synonyms: problem, trouble, hardship, obstacle
Antonyms: ease, simplicity
Word origin: From Latin difficultas, from difficilis, not easy.
How to Spell Difficulty
Syllables: dif - fi - cul - ty
Tricky part: The f is doubled but the c is not. The end is ulty, with no extra i: difficulity is a common mistake.
Watch out for: dificulty, difficulity, diffculty
Memory tip: Differ, different and difficulty all open with diff, a double f. After that, cul-ty is just two short beats.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Dadi climbs the stairs with some difficulty since her knee operation.
Example 2: The difficulty with this puzzle is that every piece looks the same.
Example 3: If you have any difficulty with the sums, ask me after class.
Fun Fact
Difficilis in Latin was made of dis, not, and facilis, easy, so the word literally means not easy. Facilis also gave English facile and facility.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
difficulity
a) l
b) u
c) i
d) c
Show answer
c) i. The ending is ulty; the i squeezed in after the l does not belong.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word difficulty as used in the sentence:
The climbers crossed the icy ridge with great difficulty in the strong wind.
a) effort
b) struggle
c) trouble
d) ease
Show answer
d) ease. Crossing with ease would mean it was simple, the reverse of the climbers' experience.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Seema had no fyculditif finding the shop once she reached the main market.
a) faculty
b) fidelity
c) difficulty
d) futility
Show answer
c) difficulty. There are ten letters and two f's in the jumble; faculty, fidelity and futility are all too short.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person who speaks with difficulty ____.
a) talks very fast
b) finds it hard to talk
c) speaks many languages
d) sings while talking
Show answer
b) finds it hard to talk
2. Which word could replace difficulty in: We had a small difficulty with the car.
a) problem
b) party
c) ride
d) colour
Show answer
a) problem
