difficult competition

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult competition" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where there are many strong contenders or challenges in a competitive environment. Example: "The startup faced difficult competition from established companies in the tech industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

It's a very difficult competition".

The Guardian - Sport

The Champions League is an extremely difficult competition but we are on the right track".

The Guardian - Sport

Claudio Aspesi, an analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein, said Sunday's advertising merger was not simply a matter of corporate synergy but rather of gaining leverage against difficult competition.

The New York Times

"CONDITIONS on the high street are difficult, competition is intense and there is nothing to suggest this will change in the coming months".

The Economist

"The Champions League is a very difficult competition, you need to be lucky and in good form in February, but I think we can do well next year".

The Guardian - Sport

"This makes our success even better because it was the most difficult competition for us, having to beat four teams who have qualified for the World Cup," Shawki Gharib, an assistant coach, said.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

38 human-written examples

"I've been competing for the last five weeks, got bigger, stronger and entered more difficult competitions," added the Worksop-born showjumper.

BBC

She also achieved third place in the ITTF Pro Tour Grand Finals and the Women's World Cup, which are two of the most prestigious and difficult competitions in the table tennis arena.

Wikipedia

We know how important and difficult the competition is.

The Guardian - Sport

And thriving online is difficult: the competition is fierce and listeners fickle.

The Economist

The difficult continental competition, Martino said, ensures that South American teams are more fit than European, Asian or African teams.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a competitive situation, consider whether "difficult", "tough", or "intense" better captures the specific nuance you want to convey. "Difficult" implies inherent challenges, "tough" emphasizes resilience required, and "intense" highlights the high level of activity.

Common error

Avoid simply stating "difficult competition" without elaborating on what makes the competition difficult. Specify the factors contributing to the difficulty, such as numerous strong competitors, limited resources, or complex regulations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult competition" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "difficult" modifies the noun "competition". This phrase generally describes a scenario where achieving success in a competitive environment is challenging due to various factors.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Wiki

12%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult competition" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a challenging competitive environment. According to Ludwig, this phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When writing, it's important to provide specific details about the factors that make the competition difficult. While alternatives like "tough competition" or "intense rivalry" exist, "difficult competition" offers a neutral and widely understood way to express this concept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

tough contest

Replaces "competition" with "contest", implying a specific event or challenge.

intense rivalry

Focuses on the adversarial nature of the competition, highlighting the strong opposition.

fierce opposition

Emphasizes the strength and determination of the competitors.

challenging environment

Shifts the focus from the competitors to the overall setting in which the competition takes place.

cutthroat market

Specifically used in a business context, highlighting aggressive competitive practices.

strong contenders

Focuses on the quality and capability of the individual competitors.

formidable challenge

Highlights the difficulty in overcoming the competitive forces.

tight race

Implies a close and closely contested competition, often used in literal races or figurative contests.

stiff challenge

Emphasizes the level of difficulty of the overall challenge.

intensive contest

Stresses the high degree of effort and engagement required in the competition.

FAQs

What does "difficult competition" mean?

The phrase "difficult competition" refers to a situation where there are significant challenges to succeed due to strong rivals, complex circumstances, or other obstacles.

What can I say instead of "difficult competition"?

You can use alternatives like "tough contest", "intense rivalry", or "fierce opposition" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "difficult competition" or "tough competition"?

Both "difficult competition" and "tough competition" are correct. "Difficult" implies inherent challenges, while "tough" emphasizes the resilience needed to succeed.

How do I use "difficult competition" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult competition" to describe any scenario where success is hard-won. For example, "The new startup faces "difficult competition" from established industry leaders."