arduous

/ˈɑːrdʒuəs/ Formal

Say it: AR-joo-us

adjective Involving or requiring a great deal of strenuous effort, making it difficult and tiring.
The team faced the arduous task of climbing the mountain in a single day.

📖 Seen in the wild

Climbing Mount Everest is an arduous undertaking that tests the limits of human endurance.
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✏️ arduous in a sentence

The negotiators began the arduous process of drafting a peace treaty.
Completing the quarterly report was an arduous but necessary part of the job.
He chronicled his arduous journey across the desert in his memoir.
Learning a new language as an adult can be an arduous undertaking.
The research involved the arduous task of sifting through thousands of historical documents.
After an arduous recovery from surgery, she was finally able to walk again.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

strenuous laborious grueling difficult taxing demanding onerous challenging

strenuous · emphasizes the great physical or mental exertion required.

laborious · highlights the long, hard work involved, often with a sense of toil.

grueling · suggests something is punishingly difficult to the point of exhaustion.

difficult · a more general term; arduous implies difficulty over a sustained period.

Opposites: easy, effortless, simple, facile

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'arduous' climbed its way into English from the Latin word 'arduus', which meant 'high, steep, or difficult to ascend'. This original sense of a physically demanding climb has broadened over time to describe any activity that requires great, sustained effort, whether physical or mental.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

arduous taskarduous journeyarduous processarduous climblong and arduous

'Arduous' is a strong word used to describe tasks that require significant, sustained effort over time. It carries a connotation of weariness and the testing of one's endurance. Because of its formal tone, it is more common in writing and formal speech than in casual conversation, where 'hard' or 'tough' would be more natural choices. Use it for major undertakings like writing a dissertation or crossing a continent, not for simply doing the dishes.

Word family: arduously, arduousness

💬 Quick answers

What does arduous mean?

Arduous describes something that is extremely difficult, requires a lot of effort, and is often tiring. It implies a challenge that tests your stamina or determination.

What's the difference between arduous and difficult?

While both mean not easy, 'arduous' is stronger and more specific. It emphasizes the sustained, strenuous effort and exhaustion involved, whereas 'difficult' is a more general term for any challenging task.

Is arduous a formal word?

Yes, 'arduous' is considered a formal word. In casual conversation, you are more likely to hear people use words like 'hard,' 'tough,' or 'tiring'.

Can a person be arduous?

No, a person cannot be arduous. The word describes tasks, journeys, processes, or efforts, not people's personalities.

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