crossword clue for difficult – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Crosswordanswer.co.uk! Here you'll find comprehensive solutions and explanations for the crossword clue "difficult", helping you solve your puzzle with ease. We provide answers for all common word lengths, ensuring you find exactly what you need.
Solutions for "crossword clue for difficult" by Letter Count
4 Letters
HARD: Often used to describe something that is not easy to do, understand, or deal with.
5 Letters
TOUGH: Implies resilience or requiring a lot of effort and endurance, suggesting a challenging situation.
STEEP: Can imply something that is difficult to achieve or overcome, often in the sense of a high price or challenging task.
6 Letters
TRICKY: Denotes something requiring skill or caution, often due to hidden complexities or traps.
KNOTTY: Refers to something intricate, complicated, or presenting difficulties, like a tangled problem.
7 Letters
ARDUOUS: Suggests something requiring great effort or exertion; difficult and tiring.
COMPLEX: Describes something made up of many interrelated parts, making it difficult to analyze, understand, or solve.
More About "crossword clue for difficult"
The word "difficult" in crosswords is a classic, often appearing due to its rich array of synonyms. Puzzle setters love clues that can lead to multiple answers based on letter count and subtle contextual nuances. Understanding the various shades of meaning for 'difficult'—from 'hard' implying effort, to 'knotty' suggesting complexity, or 'arduous' indicating strain—is key to unlocking the correct solution.
The challenge with 'difficult' lies in its broad applicability. A 'difficult decision' might be a 'tough' one, while a 'difficult concept' could be 'complex'. Always consider the words surrounding 'difficult' in the clue itself. This additional context is often the key indicator, steering you towards the specific synonym the setter has in mind. Our comprehensive list aims to cover the most common interpretations you'll encounter.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Analyze the Clue's Nuance: For words like 'difficult', pay attention to any adjectives or nouns accompanying it. 'Difficult path' might suggest STEEP or ARDUOUS, while 'difficult problem' could be KNOTTY or COMPLEX.
- Check Letter Count First: Always prioritize the number of letters required for the answer. This is the quickest way to narrow down potential solutions for any clue, especially versatile ones like 'difficult'.
- Consider Common Crossword Synonyms: Crosswords often recycle certain words. 'Hard', 'tough', and 'tricky' are very common answers for 'difficult'. Keep these in mind as your first guesses.
- Look for Anagrams or Wordplay: While 'difficult' itself is straightforward, sometimes the clue might use a form of wordplay. Be open to different types of clues, even for seemingly simple words.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are some crossword clues for "difficult" so varied?
The clue 'difficult' can have many synonyms depending on the specific nuance the puzzle setter intends (e.g., hard, challenging, arduous, complex, tricky). Also, different word lengths are needed to fit into various puzzle grids, requiring a broad range of related terms.
How does letter count help when solving "difficult" clues?
Knowing the exact number of letters for an answer is crucial. It narrows down the possibilities significantly. For 'difficult', a 4-letter answer might be 'HARD', while a 7-letter answer could be 'ARDUOUS' or 'COMPLEX', guiding you to the correct synonym based on the available space in the grid.
Are there common patterns or contexts for "difficult" clues?
Yes, 'difficult' clues often appear with qualifiers. For instance, 'Difficult task' might point to ARDUOUS, 'Difficult knot' to KNOTTY, or 'Difficult climb' to STEEP. Pay attention to the surrounding words in the clue for context.