What's the difference between arduous and difficult?

How do I use arduous in a sentence?

Is arduous a common word in academic writing?

← Dictionary

arduous

/ˈɑːdʒuəs/

IELTSAcademic

adjective

Needing great effort; very difficult and tiring.

The hike up the mountain was arduous.
She completed the arduous project on time.

Adinary Nuance

Near-neighbors: arduous is stronger than difficult and more formal than hard; it suits serious effort or long challenges. Use arduous when you want to emphasize sustained strain, not just simple trouble. Writers choose it over rough or tough for elevated, precise tone.

In other languages

Spanish: Arduoso/a
Japanese: 大変な
Korean: 힘들고 까다로운
Vietnamese: Vất vả
Chinese: 艰辛的

Common phrases

arduous journeyarduous taskarduous climbthe arduous path

Synonyms

hard difficult tough strenuous taxing

Related words

effort tough difficult labor challenge

Frequently asked questions

Is arduous formal or informal?: Is arduous formal or informal?
What's the difference between arduous and difficult?: What's the difference between arduous and difficult?
How do I use arduous in a sentence?: How do I use arduous in a sentence?
Is arduous a common word in academic writing?: Is arduous a common word in academic writing?