confront the difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "confront the difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing the act of facing or dealing with a challenging situation or problem. Example: "In order to grow, we must confront the difficulty that comes with change."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The poem is called "Thinking" because it forces us to confront the difficulty of keeping that mental crow on its mental wire.

The New Yorker

But the true test will most likely come in the months ahead, when nations like Portugal, Ireland and Spain, which are struggling to impose unpopular austerity measures on their people, confront the difficulty of cutting budget deficits in the face of brutal recessions.

The New York Times

Harbach tells this story through a group of students, all of whom long in their various ways to become something special, and all of whom must confront "the difficulty of measuring the size and nature of one's acts and of choosing whom one will be — of trying to maintain and defend those choices or else to reverse them".

The New Yorker

Harbach tells this story through a group of students, all of whom long in their various ways to become something special, and all of whom must confront "the difficulty of measuring the size and nature of one's acts and of choosing whom one will be of trying to maintain and defend those choices or else to reverse them".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

That local men "step up of their own volition" to help younger men in their neighbourhoods without role models to confront the difficulties of adjusting from tough childhoods resonates profoundly – even for those who after years of contact with statutory youth services may have seemed unreachable, says Bailey.

The Guardian

"The creation and supervisory review of these plans would require firms and their regulators to confront the difficulties posed by complex legal structures well in advance of the firm's financial distress, and in some cases could lead firms to simplify their internal structures".

Huffington Post

This level of precision awaits future studies that likely will confront the difficulties we encountered.

BMC Public Health

Steven confronted the difficulty of the relationship as visiting time drew to a close.

The New Yorker

The problem appears to be that if we start with the question of how society determines patterns of disease, we invariably end up confronting the difficulty of explaining how the acting feeling subject either resists or is less than determined by society.

Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology

But if Ms. Power was able to prick the collective conscience of elected officials as an outsider, on the inside she has confronted the difficulties of making policy in a complex environment with competing demands.

The New York Times

But it is more likely he will allow the final law-making to wait until after the election, reaping the political rewards of tonight's vote without confronting the difficulties of putting the ban into place and incurring the wrath of rural Britain.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "confront the difficulty" when you want to emphasize directly addressing a challenging or problematic situation. It conveys a sense of determination and active engagement.

Common error

While "confront the difficulty" is appropriate in many contexts, avoid using it in overly simplistic situations where more straightforward language like "solve the problem" would be more effective.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "confront the difficulty" serves as a verb phrase indicating the act of directly facing and dealing with a challenging situation. Ludwig provides examples where this phrase is used in varied contexts, such as confronting the difficulties of policy-making or adjusting from tough childhoods.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "confront the difficulty" is a grammatically correct and usable expression in English, typically employed in neutral to professional settings. It emphasizes directly addressing a challenge with determination. As noted by Ludwig, it is found in various contexts, including news, science, and encyclopedias. While "confront the difficulty" isn't the most frequent expression, it effectively conveys a sense of proactive engagement, with alternatives like "address the challenge" and "tackle the problem" offering similar nuances. The key is to use it judiciously, ensuring that the level of formality aligns with the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

address the challenge

Focuses on directly dealing with a challenge.

tackle the problem

Implies actively working to solve a problem.

face the challenge

Emphasizes the act of facing a difficult situation directly.

grapple with the issue

Suggests a more prolonged and intense struggle with an issue.

contend with the problem

Highlights dealing with something difficult or troublesome.

deal with the complexity

Specifically addresses handling a complex situation.

overcome the obstacle

Focuses on successfully surpassing a barrier.

resolve the issue

Highlights finding a solution to a problem.

manage the complexity

Suggests handling a difficult or intricate situation with skill.

meet the challenge

Implies adequately responding to a difficult task.

FAQs

How can I use "confront the difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "confront the difficulty" when you want to express directly facing a challenging situation, for example: "To achieve success, we must "confront the difficulty" head-on".

What are some alternatives to "confront the difficulty"?

Alternatives include "address the challenge", "tackle the problem", or "face the challenge", which all convey a similar meaning but with slightly different nuances.

Is "confront the difficulty" formal or informal?

"Confront the difficulty" is suitable for neutral to formal contexts. Simpler phrasings might be preferred in very informal situations.

What's the difference between "confront the difficulty" and "solve the problem"?

"Confront the difficulty" emphasizes the act of facing and dealing with a challenge, while "solve the problem" focuses on finding a resolution. The best choice depends on whether you want to stress the process of engagement or the outcome.