Ask Difference

Difficult vs. Hard — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 13, 2023
"Difficult" implies something that requires effort to solve or overcome. "Hard" can mean physically solid or also be a synonym for "difficult."
Difficult vs. Hard — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Difficult and Hard

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Key Differences

"Difficult" pertains to something that requires a lot of effort or skill to do or understand. "Hard," while synonymous in some contexts, can also describe a physical state of being solid and firm. Both words have nuances that slightly differentiate them.
"Difficult" might pertain to tasks or situations that necessitate substantial cognitive or physical effort to navigate. "Hard" is often employed when the task or subject at hand demands significant effort or endurance, whether mental or physical. Their overlap is primarily seen in contexts describing challenging scenarios or tasks.
"Difficult" is commonly used when describing complex tasks or problems that demand particular skills or deep thought to solve. "Hard," on the other hand, is more generally used and can denote both a physical property and the complexity or challenge presented by a situation or task. While their semantic fields intersect, their applicability varies.
"Difficult" also brings a connotation of being hard to deal with or manage, often implying a level of complexity. "Hard" can also signify something that is tough to endure or experience, possibly involving physical or emotional strain. Their shared usage area is wide, yet the shades of meaning differ.
In an emotional context, "difficult" tends to describe a situation or person that is hard to navigate or manage. "Hard" may describe emotional experiences that are tough to bear or get through. Each word offers a slightly different shade of meaning, despite their synonymous use in numerous situations.
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Comparison Chart

Basic Definition

Needing much effort or skill
Firm or resistant; needing effort

Physical Properties

Not commonly used
Commonly used (e.g., hard rock)

Emotional Context

Less commonly used
Commonly used (e.g., hard times)

In reference to people

Commonly used (e.g., difficult boss)
Less commonly used

Adaptability to situations

More adaptable to various contexts
Specific contexts (hard can be literal)

Compare with Definitions

Difficult

Not easy to understand or analyze.
It's a difficult text to interpret.

Hard

Done with a great deal of force.
He hit the ball hard.

Difficult

Challenging to undertake or resolve.
The puzzle was particularly difficult.

Hard

Difficult to endure or undergo.
These are hard times for many people.

Difficult

Demanding a lot of effort or attention.
The difficult task required hours of focus.

Hard

Solid, firm, and rigid; not easily broken, bent, or pierced
The slate broke on the hard floor
Rub the varnish down when it's hard

Difficult

Not easy to please or satisfy.
She is known to be a difficult customer.

Hard

Done with a great deal of force or strength
A hard whack

Difficult

Requiring considerable effort or skill; not easy to do or accomplish
"To entertain is far more difficult than to enlighten" (Anthony Burgess).

Hard

Requiring a great deal of endurance or effort
Airship-flying was pretty hard work
She found it hard to believe that he could be involved
It's hard for drummers these days

Difficult

Not easy to endure; full of hardship or trouble; trying
Fell upon difficult times.

Hard

(of information) reliable, especially because based on something true or substantiated
Hard facts about the underclass are maddeningly elusive

Difficult

Not easy to comprehend, solve, or explain
A difficult puzzle.

Hard

Strongly alcoholic; denoting a spirit rather than beer or wine.

Difficult

Not easy to please, satisfy, or manage
A difficult child.

Hard

(of water) containing relatively high concentrations of dissolved calcium and magnesium salts, which make lathering difficult
Hard water requires much more soap, shampoo, or detergent than soft water

Difficult

Not easy to persuade or convince; stubborn.

Hard

(of the penis, clitoris, or nipples) erect.

Difficult

Hard, not easy, requiring much effort.
However, the difficult weather conditions will ensure Yunnan has plenty of freshwater. File:However, the difficult weather conditions will ensure Yunnan has plenty of freshwater.ogg

Hard

(of a consonant) pronounced as a velar plosive (as c in cat, g in go).

Difficult

Hard to manage, uncooperative, troublesome.
Stop being difficult and eat your broccoli—you know it's good for you.

Hard

With a great deal of effort
They work hard at school

Difficult

(obsolete) Unable or unwilling.

Hard

So as to be solid or firm
The mortar has set hard

Difficult

To make difficult; to impede; to perplex.

Hard

To the fullest extent possible
Put the wheel hard over to starboard

Difficult

Hard to do or to make; beset with difficulty; attended with labor, trouble, or pains; not easy; arduous.
There is not the strength or courage left me to venture into the wide, strange, and difficult world, alone.

Hard

A road leading down across a foreshore.

Difficult

Hard to manage or to please; not easily wrought upon; austere; stubborn; as, a difficult person.

Hard

Resistant to pressure; not readily penetrated; firm or solid
A hard material.

Difficult

To render difficult; to impede; to perplex.

Hard

Well protected from an attack, as by aerial bombardment
Bunkers and other hard targets.

Difficult

Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure;
A difficult task
Nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access
Difficult times
A difficult child
Found himself in a difficult situation
Why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?

Hard

Requiring great effort or endurance
A hard assignment.

Difficult

Requiring much effort and trouble;
The mountain climb was long, steep, and difficult

Hard

Performed with or marked by great diligence or energy
A project that required years of hard work.

Difficult

Complicated and not easy to manage.
The project is in a difficult phase now.

Hard

Difficult to resolve, accomplish, or finish
That was a hard question.

Hard

Difficult to understand or impart
Physics was the hardest of my courses. Thermodynamics is a hard course to teach.

Hard

Proceeding or performing with force, vigor, or persistence; assiduous
A hard worker.

Hard

Intense in force or degree
A hard blow.

Hard

Inclement or severe
A long, hard winter.

Hard

Stern, strict, or demanding
A hard taskmaster.

Hard

Lacking compassion or sympathy; callous
Became hard after years in prison.

Hard

Difficult to endure; causing hardship or suffering
A hard life.

Hard

Oppressive or unjust in nature or effect
Restrictions that were hard on welfare applicants.

Hard

Harsh or severe in effect or intention
I said some hard things that I regret.

Hard

Marked by stubborn refusal to compromise or yield; uncompromising
Drives a hard bargain.

Hard

Bitter or resentful
Hard feelings caused by the insult.

Hard

Showing disapproval, bitterness, or resentment
Gave me a hard look.

Hard

Causing damage or premature wear
Snow and ice are hard on a car's finish.

Hard

Bad; adverse
Hard luck.

Hard

Real and unassailable
Hard evidence.

Hard

Definite; firm
A hard commitment.

Hard

Free from illusion or sentimentality; practical or realistic
We need to take a hard look at the situation.

Hard

Using or based on data that are readily quantified or verified
The hard sciences.

Hard

Marked by sharp delineation or contrast
A hard line separating the two lists.

Hard

Lacking in shade; undiminished
The hard light of the midday sun.

Hard

Hardcore.

Hard

Being a turn in a specific direction at an angle more acute than other possible routes.

Hard

Metallic, as opposed to paper. Used of currency.

Hard

Backed by bullion rather than by credit. Used of currency.

Hard

High and stable. Used of prices.

Hard

Durable; lasting
Hard merchandise.

Hard

Written or printed rather than stored in electronic media
Sent the information by hard mail.

Hard

Erect; tumid. Used of a penis.

Hard

Having high alcoholic content; intoxicating
Hard liquor.

Hard

Rendered alcoholic by fermentation; fermented
Hard cider.

Hard

Containing dissolved salts that interfere with the lathering action of soap or other cleansing agents. Used of water.

Hard

(Linguistics) Velar, as in c in cake or g in log, as opposed to palatal or soft.

Hard

(Physics) Of relatively high energy; penetrating
Hard x-rays.

Hard

High in gluten content
Hard wheat.

Hard

(Chemistry) Resistant to biodegradation
A hard detergent.

Hard

Extremely or dangerously addictive. Used of certain illegal drugs, such as heroin.

Hard

With strenuous effort; intently
Worked hard all day.
Stared hard at the accused criminal.

Hard

With great force, vigor, or energy
Pressed hard on the lever.

Hard

In such a way as to cause great damage or hardship
Industrial cities hit hard by unemployment.

Hard

With great distress, grief, or bitterness
Took the divorce hard.

Hard

Firmly; securely
Held hard to the railing.

Hard

Toward or into a solid condition
Concrete that sets hard within a day.

Hard

Near in space or time; close
The factory stands hard by the railroad tracks.

Hard

(Nautical) Completely; fully
Hard alee.

Hard

(of material or fluid) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Hard

Resistant to pressure.
This bread is so stale and hard, I can barely cut it.

Hard

(of drink or drugs) Strong.

Hard

(of a normally nonalcoholic drink) Containing alcohol.
Hard cider, hard lemonade, hard seltzer, hard soda

Hard

(of water) High in dissolved chemical salts, especially those of calcium.

Hard

Having the capability of being a permanent magnet by being a material with high magnetic coercivity (compare soft).

Hard

Having a high energy (high frequency; short wavelength).
Hard X-rays

Hard

Made up of parallel rays, producing clearly defined shadows.

Hard

(personal or social) Having a severe property; presenting difficulty.

Hard

Difficult or requiring a lot of effort to do, understand, experience, or deal with.
A hard problem;
A hard question;
A hard topic

Hard

Demanding a lot of effort to endure.
A hard life

Hard

Severe, harsh, unfriendly, brutal.
A hard master;
A hard heart;
Hard words;
A hard character
The senator asked the party chief to put the hard word on his potential rivals.

Hard

(dated) Difficult to resist or control; powerful.

Hard

(military) Hardened; having unusually strong defences.
A hard site

Hard

(slang) Tough and muscular.
He thinks he's well hard.

Hard

Unquestionable, unequivocal.
Hard evidence;
A hard requirement

Hard

(of a road intersection) Having a comparatively larger or a ninety-degree angle.
At the intersection, there are two roads going to the left. Take the hard left.

Hard

Sexually aroused; having an erect penis.
I got so hard watching two hot girls wrestle each other on the beach.

Hard

(bodybuilding) Having muscles that are tightened as a result of intense, regular exercise.

Hard

Fortis.

Hard

Plosive.
There is a hard c in "clock" and a soft c in "centre".

Hard

Unvoiced.
Hard k, t, s, ch, as distinguished from soft, g, d, z, j.

Hard

(Slavic phonology) Velarized or plain, rather than palatalized.

Hard

(arts) Having a severe property; presenting a barrier to enjoyment.

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Hard

Having disagreeable and abrupt contrasts in colour or shading.

Hard

(uncomparable)

Hard

In a physical form, not digital.
A soft or hard copy; a digital or hard archive

Hard

Using a manual or physical process, not by means of a software command.
A hard reboot or reset

Hard

(politics) Far, extreme.
Hard right, hard left

Hard

Of silk: not having had the natural gum boiled off.

Hard

(finance) Of a market: having more demand than supply; being a seller's market.

Hard

(manner) With much force or effort.
He hit the puck hard up the ice.
They worked hard all week.
At the intersection, bear hard left.
The recession hit them especially hard.
Think hard about your choices.
The couple were fucking each other hard.

Hard

(manner) With difficulty.
His degree was hard earned.

Hard

(obsolete) So as to raise difficulties.

Hard

(manner) Compactly.
The lake had finally frozen hard.

Hard

Near, close.

Hard

A firm or paved beach or slope convenient for hauling vessels out of the water.

Hard

A tyre whose compound is softer than superhards, and harder than mediums.

Hard

Crack cocaine.

Hard

Hard labor.
The prisoners were sentenced to three years' hard.

Hard

Not easily penetrated, cut, or separated into parts; not yielding to pressure; firm; solid; compact; - applied to material bodies, and opposed to soft; as, hard wood; hard flesh; a hard apple.

Hard

Difficult, mentally or judicially; not easily apprehended, decided, or resolved; as a hard problem.
The hard causes they brought unto Moses.
In which are some things hard to be understood.

Hard

Difficult to accomplish; full of obstacles; laborious; fatiguing; arduous; as, a hard task; a disease hard to cure.

Hard

Difficult to resist or control; powerful.
The stag was too hard for the horse.
A power which will be always too hard for them.

Hard

Difficult to bear or endure; not easy to put up with or consent to; hence, severe; rigorous; oppressive; distressing; unjust; grasping; as, a hard lot; hard times; hard fare; a hard winter; hard conditions or terms.
I never could drive a hard bargain.

Hard

Difficult to please or influence; stern; unyielding; obdurate; unsympathetic; unfeeling; cruel; as, a hard master; a hard heart; hard words; a hard character.

Hard

Not easy or agreeable to the taste; harsh; stiff; rigid; ungraceful; repelling; as, a hard style.
Figures harder than even the marble itself.

Hard

Rough; acid; sour, as liquors; as, hard cider.

Hard

Abrupt or explosive in utterance; not aspirated, sibilated, or pronounced with a gradual change of the organs from one position to another; - said of certain consonants, as c in came, and g in go, as distinguished from the same letters in center, general, etc.

Hard

Wanting softness or smoothness of utterance; harsh; as, a hard tone.

Hard

Rigid in the drawing or distribution of the figures; formal; lacking grace of composition.

Hard

With pressure; with urgency; hence, diligently; earnestly.
And prayed so hard for mercy from the prince.
My fatherIs hard at study; pray now, rest yourself.

Hard

With difficulty; as, the vehicle moves hard.

Hard

Uneasily; vexatiously; slowly.

Hard

So as to raise difficulties.

Hard

With tension or strain of the powers; violently; with force; tempestuously; vehemently; vigorously; energetically; as, to press, to blow, to rain hard; hence, rapidly; nimbly; as, to run hard.

Hard

Close or near.
Whose house joined hard to the synagogue.

Hard

To harden; to make hard.

Hard

A ford or passage across a river or swamp.

Hard

Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure;
A difficult task
Nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access
Difficult times
A difficult child
Found himself in a difficult situation
Why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?

Hard

Metaphorically hard;
A hard fate
Took a hard look
A hard bargainer
A hard climb

Hard

Not yielding to pressure or easily penetrated;
Hard as rock

Hard

Very strong or vigorous;
Strong winds
A hard left to the chin
A knockout punch
A severe blow

Hard

Characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort;
Worked their arduous way up the mining valley
A grueling campaign
Hard labor
Heavy work
Heavy going
Spent many laborious hours on the project
Set a punishing pace

Hard

Of speech sounds

Hard

Of a drinker or drinking; indulging intemperately;
Does a lot of hard drinking
A heavy drinker

Hard

Having undergone fermentation;
Hard cider

Hard

Having a high alcoholic content;
Hard liquor

Hard

Unfortunate or hard to bear;
Had hard luck
A tough break

Hard

Dried out;
Hard dry rolls left over from the day before

Hard

With effort or force or vigor;
The team played hard
Worked hard all day
Pressed hard on the lever
Hit the ball hard
Slammed the door hard

Hard

With firmness;
Held hard to the railing

Hard

Earnestly or intently;
Thought hard about it
Stared hard at the accused

Hard

Causing great damage or hardship;
Industries hit hard by the depression
She was severely affected by the bank's failure

Hard

Slowly and with difficulty;
Prejudices die hard

Hard

Indulging excessively;
He drank heavily

Hard

Into a solid condition;
Concrete that sets hard within a few hours

Hard

Very near or close in space or time;
It stands hard by the railroad tracks
They were hard on his heels
A strike followed hard upon the plant's opening

Hard

With pain or distress or bitterness;
He took the rejection very hard

Hard

To the full extent possible; all the way;
Hard alee
The ship went hard astern
Swung the wheel hard left

Hard

Solid, firm, and resistant to pressure.
The surface was hard and unyielding.

Hard

Requiring a great deal of endurance or effort.
The exam was extremely hard.

Hard

In a firm manner; tightly.
Hold on hard to the railing.

Common Curiosities

Is "hard" always related to physical properties?

No, "hard" can describe physical firmness and challenging situations.

Is "hard" usable in emotional contexts?

Yes, like in "hard times."

Can "difficult" pertain to people?

Yes, describing them as hard to deal with.

How is "difficult" used in a problem-solving context?

To indicate a challenging problem to solve or understand.

How is "difficult" used to describe situations?

Indicating a challenging or troubling situation.

Can "difficult" and "hard" be used interchangeably?

Often, but not always due to different connotations.

Does "difficult" apply to skill-requiring tasks?

Yes, indicating a high skill or effort requirement.

How does "difficult" relate to management?

It can describe a challenging management situation.

Can "hard" describe an intense effort?

Yes, like working hard on a task.

Can "hard" relate to emotional states?

Yes, like a choice being hard to make.

Can “hard” define durability?

Yes, like a hard, durable material.

Can "difficult" describe a physical state?

Typically, no. "Difficult" usually describes complexity or challenge.

Is "hard" used to describe complex tasks?

Yes, synonymous with "difficult" in this context.

Can "difficult" imply a complicated nature?

Yes, often used to describe complex situations or tasks.

Is “hard” always negative?

No, it might simply describe firmness or intensity.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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