difficult to comfort

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to comfort" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing someone who is hard to console or soothe in a time of distress or sadness. Example: "After the loss of her pet, she was difficult to comfort, no matter how hard her friends tried."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Babies exposed to marijuana during pregnancy or while nursing may sometimes seem jittery and difficult to comfort.

Columbia University

It was clear, as they twisted about in their infant seats, that these babies were high-maintenance, difficult to comfort.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Sometimes you have residents who are very upset, and it's difficult to comfort them, because the person they're missing isn't around any more, or they want to go home but no longer have a house".

The Guardian

At these junctures, it may be very difficult to comfort ourselves with the thought that there is purpose in this death.

HuffPost

These children are difficult to comfort after separation, that is, they maximize their attachment neediness [ 22].

BMC Psychiatry

Baby being a difficult feeder or difficult to comfort were not significant when adjusting for the other variables.

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

He was taking brandy to comfort the difficult afternoons and evenings.

The Guardian

Kale Shepherd, who just recently started working as a "mugger" with RAW Power, told me it's difficult to resist the urge to comfort a woman when she breaks down during or after an attack.

Vice

These warmer supply air temperatures can make it more difficult to maintain comfort in the occupied space (without increasing airflow rates), particularly in perimeter zones where cooling loads reach their highest levels.

Applied Energy

In winter, there are large temperature differences by height, making it difficult to maintain comfort.

Carbon Balance and Management

I also wanted him to have letters to comfort him during difficult times that I knew I would miss: the first big game loss, getting dumped, not making the team.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a temporary state, "difficult to comfort" is a good choice. However, if the person is always difficult to comfort, consider adding context to indicate a more permanent trait.

Common error

While acceptable, "difficult to comfort" can sound slightly informal in highly formal writing. Consider alternatives like "resistant to consolation" or "challenging to soothe" for a more elevated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to comfort" functions primarily as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes a quality or characteristic of someone or something, indicating that they are not easily consoled or soothed. Ludwig examples show it used with babies and adults.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

42%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

14%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to comfort" is a grammatically sound and acceptably common way to describe someone who isn't easily consoled. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English writing. While appropriate for various contexts, it appears most frequently in news, science and wiki sources. For formal writing, consider using synonyms like "resistant to consolation" or "challenging to soothe". Remember to choose synonyms based on the specific nuance you wish to convey, as alternatives such as "inconsolable" suggest a more extreme state. Using it correctly helps to accurately portray the emotional state and challenges related to providing comfort.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to console

Replaces "difficult" with "hard", offering a more direct synonym.

challenging to soothe

Substitutes "difficult" with "challenging" and "comfort" with "soothe", indicating a demanding calming process.

not easily comforted

Uses a passive construction to emphasize the subject's resistance to comfort.

resistant to solace

Replaces "comfort" with "solace", suggesting a deeper form of consolation is needed but not accepted.

unresponsive to comfort

Highlights a lack of reaction to attempts at comforting.

struggling to find comfort

Emphasizes the active effort of the subject to find comfort but with struggle.

not receptive to reassurance

Focuses on the lack of acceptance of reassuring words or actions.

inconsolable

A single word expressing the inability to be comforted at all.

hard to placate

Shifts the focus to calming or appeasing someone who is agitated or upset.

unamenable to soothing

Highlights the unyielding nature of the person's distress, making them resistant to calming efforts.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to comfort" to describe someone who is hard to console or soothe. For example: "The baby was "difficult to comfort" after the vaccination."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to comfort"?

Some alternatives include "hard to console", "challenging to soothe", or "inconsolable", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "difficult to comfort" formal or informal?

"Difficult to comfort" is generally considered neutral in tone and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although slightly more formal alternatives may be preferable in academic or professional writing.

What makes someone "difficult to comfort"?

Many factors can make someone "difficult to comfort", including underlying emotional or psychological issues, trauma, or simply a personality that is less responsive to conventional comforting methods.