difficult to fulfil

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to fulfil" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a task, requirement, or expectation that is challenging to meet or accomplish. Example: "The project has several requirements that are difficult to fulfil, making it a complex undertaking."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

29 human-written examples

"It's difficult to fulfil those hopes.

Independent

In addition, the different needs of different sets of road inventory users are difficult to fulfil with these schemes.

Transportation Research Procedia

The need to maximize the performance and operational reliability of ecological continuous conveyor systems is increasing nowadays and their requirements are difficult to fulfil.

Measurement

The Guardian would find it much more difficult to fulfil its mission of educating and informing if it pushes away its audience, which continues to grow.

The Guardian

"It's hard to explain but there's a way of life, something deep down, that makes it difficult to fulfil its potential.

The Guardian - Sport

As ever, the SNP is deliberately promoting demands – in this case Scotland's continued membership of the EU single market even in the event of the rest of the UK leaving – that the UK government will find difficult to fulfil.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

31 human-written examples

That promise will be hard to fulfil.

The Economist

That's a difficult expectation to fulfil, particularly at a festival where all comedy-watchers have infinite opportunities to experience the thrill of the new.

The Guardian

Bunyan has been pictured wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan "Enjoy Life" – a difficult imperative to fulfil when you're a well-travelled teenager languishing in Clitheroe.

The Guardian - Opinion

For antibodies in particular and the IHC method in general, the evaluation of specificity has provoked numerous comments in the past with many concluding that antibody specificity is a difficult criterion to fulfil [315].

Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology

In the crucial period up to the mid-1970s, the application of the innovative techniques that made other cancers interesting to researchers, funding bodies, and companies, in clinical trials that were feasible and ethically acceptable (criteria that were difficult enough to fulfil, as we have seen), simply did not seem to make much of a difference for lung cancer patients.

Bulletin of the History of Medicine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to fulfil", ensure that the subject and object of the sentence are clearly defined to avoid ambiguity. For example, instead of saying "The task was difficult to fulfil", specify "The requirements of the task were difficult to fulfil".

Common error

Avoid using passive voice constructions that obscure the actor or agent responsible for fulfilling the requirement. For instance, instead of "The promise was difficult to fulfil", prefer "It was difficult for the government to fulfil the promise".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to fulfil" functions as an adjective phrase that describes the level of challenge associated with meeting a requirement, obligation, or goal. Ludwig AI confirms this, providing numerous examples across diverse domains where this phrase is used to qualify the feasibility or ease of achieving something. It often acts as a predicate adjective following a linking verb.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to fulfil" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe something that presents a challenge in being achieved or satisfied. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage spans diverse contexts, from news reports and scientific articles to formal business documents, suggesting a degree of versatility and adaptability. While synonyms like "hard to satisfy" or "challenging to achieve" exist, "difficult to fulfil" carries a specific connotation of meeting a predefined requirement or obligation. When employing this phrase, clarity in sentence structure and avoidance of passive voice enhance its effectiveness. Overall, understanding its nuances can significantly improve the precision and impact of written communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to satisfy

Focuses on the difficulty in meeting expectations or desires.

challenging to achieve

Emphasizes the demanding nature of reaching a specific objective.

not easy to accomplish

Highlights the lack of ease in completing a task.

tough to realize

Underscores the struggle in making something a reality.

onerous to meet

Stresses the burdensome aspect of satisfying a condition or demand.

taxing to execute

Highlights the demanding nature of the execution.

complicated to bring about

Focuses on the intricate nature of causing something to happen.

not straightforward to implement

Indicates the lack of simplicity in putting a plan or system into effect.

problematic to bring to fruition

Highlights the potential issues in completing a project or plan.

demanding to bring to pass

Emphasizes the rigorous nature of causing something to occur.

FAQs

What does "difficult to fulfil" mean?

The phrase "difficult to fulfil" means that something is challenging or hard to achieve, satisfy, or bring about. It implies that significant effort or resources are needed to meet a specific requirement or expectation.

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

You can use "difficult to fulfil" to describe challenges in various contexts. For example: "The project had several requirements that were "difficult to fulfil"", or "It was "difficult to fulfil" all the promises made during the campaign".

Are there any synonyms for "difficult to fulfil"?

Yes, you can use alternatives such as "hard to satisfy", "challenging to achieve", or "not easy to accomplish" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "difficult to fulfil" or "difficult to achieve"?

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. "Difficult to fulfil" often refers to meeting a specific requirement or obligation, while "difficult to achieve" is broader and can refer to reaching any goal or objective. The best choice depends on the specific context and desired emphasis.