difficult to avoid

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to avoid" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing situations, behaviors, or outcomes that are hard to escape or prevent. Example: "In a busy city, noise pollution is often difficult to avoid."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

So it's difficult to avoid.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(It's very difficult to avoid knowing, actually).

The Guardian - Opinion

If we don't, it will be difficult to avoid setbacks".

The New York Times

The first — difficult to avoid sometimes — is to freak out.

The New Yorker

Which appears quite difficult to avoid in Sydney anyway.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Then it may be difficult to avoid a recession".

The New York Times

Comparisons between the two firms are difficult to avoid.

The Economist

The holidays make it especially difficult to avoid sweets.

The New York Times

It is not difficult to avoid or treat if basic sanitation and clean water are available.

The Guardian

Given the high magnification of the telescope it is difficult to avoid shakes.

The Guardian - Arts

Extraordinary is a word difficult to avoid for most of the dances and the performers.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "difficult to avoid" when emphasizing the challenging nature of preventing a situation. For example, “In a recession, layoffs are often difficult to avoid.”

Common error

While grammatically correct, "difficult to avoid" can sound overly formal in casual conversation. In informal settings, consider alternatives like "hard to miss" or "can't help but notice."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to avoid" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It indicates the degree of challenge associated with preventing or evading something. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

34%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to avoid" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe situations that are challenging to prevent or evade. Ludwig AI's analysis confirms its broad applicability across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. While versatile, it's important to consider the level of formality appropriate for the setting. Alternatives like "hard to prevent" or "challenging to evade" can offer nuanced shades of meaning. When using "difficult to avoid", focus on clarity and context to ensure the intended message is accurately conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult to evade

Similar to 'difficult to avoid' but with a focus on actively escaping something.

hard to prevent

Focuses on the prevention aspect, emphasizing the difficulty in stopping something from happening.

challenging to evade

Highlights the difficulty of escaping or dodging a particular situation or consequence.

nearly impossible to escape

Emphasizes the extremely low probability of getting away from something.

practically impossible to dodge

Highlights the very low possibility of dodging something.

unavoidable

A single-word adjective stressing the certainty of something happening.

hard to get around

Highlights the difficulty in finding a way to bypass or circumvent a problem or obstacle.

not easy to sidestep

Emphasizes the complexity of avoiding an issue or responsibility.

tough to circumvent

Focuses on the difficulty of bypassing or finding a workaround for a problem.

inevitable to face

Stresses the certainty of confronting a particular outcome or challenge.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to avoid" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to avoid" to describe situations that are hard to prevent or escape. For example, "In a crowded city, traffic is often difficult to avoid".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to avoid"?

You can use alternatives like "hard to prevent", "challenging to evade", or "unavoidable" depending on the context.

When is it appropriate to use "difficult to avoid" in writing?

It is appropriate in formal and neutral writing to describe situations where prevention is challenging. In informal contexts, consider less formal alternatives.

What's the difference between "difficult to avoid" and "hard to miss"?

"Difficult to avoid" implies that something is challenging to prevent from happening or experiencing, while "hard to miss" suggests that something is easily noticeable or obvious.