difficult to reassure

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to reassure" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when describing a situation where someone finds it challenging to provide comfort or confidence to another person. Example: "Despite her best efforts, she found it difficult to reassure him after the troubling news."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Inspector Betts said that the local precinct had received a lot of complaints, and that it was difficult to reassure residents that something was being done without disclosing the investigation.

The New York Times

Practitioners said that it was very difficult to reassure these individuals regarding aspirin and overcome this mindset.

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

The ruling coalition, led by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, faces a difficult balancing act to reassure its foreign creditors and its long-suffering citizens, who have seen their incomes dwindle by a third and Greek unemployment skyrocket to 27 percent in the past three years.

The New York Times

Wendy Gray was allowed to respond: "It's very difficult to be reassured on an unknown quantity," she said.

The Guardian

I'm almost thirty years out of medical school, and it's still difficult to be reassured.

The New Yorker

As postal employees arrived for work outside the processing center in Hamilton today, some said that there has been so much conflicting information released by government officials in recent days that it was difficult to feel reassured.

The New York Times

They're hard people to reassure.

Los Angeles Times

Only €1.5 billion will take effect this year; another €5.5 billion should kick in next year; and the remaining €40 billion has been left for 2013 and 2014.The delay will make it more difficult for Mr Tremonti to reassure the markets of Italy's underlying solidity.

The Economist

Nonetheless, Mr. Bloomberg appeared unusually relaxed through the nearly 90-minute presentation, and sought to reassure New Yorkers that while difficult times were ahead, they were not yet dire.

The New York Times

It's clear that Cook was looking to reassure shareholders after a difficult trading day in Asia and Europe Chinana had its worst trading day since 2007 and Europe followed suit.

TechCrunch

The remarks seemed designed to reassure supporters at a difficult moment.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to reassure", consider the specific emotion or concern you're trying to address. Tailor your language to acknowledge the difficulty and offer specific, tangible solutions or perspectives.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to reassure" as a blanket statement without providing context. Explain why reassurance is challenging in the specific situation to add depth and credibility to your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to reassure" functions primarily as an adjective phrase followed by an infinitive, describing the degree of challenge associated with the act of reassuring someone. It often modifies a subject, indicating the level of effort or complexity involved in providing comfort or confidence. Ludwig examples confirm its use in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Academia

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "difficult to reassure" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes the challenge of providing comfort or confidence. Ludwig AI confirms its appropriateness across various contexts, though it's not exceedingly common. When writing, consider the specific reasons for the difficulty and tailor your language accordingly. Alternatives such as "hard to comfort" or "challenging to soothe" can provide nuanced variations. Overall, the phrase effectively conveys the complexity involved in reassuring someone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

not straightforward to reassure

Adds nuance, specifying that the act of reassuring is not simple or direct.

hard to comfort

Focuses on the emotional aspect of providing comfort.

challenging to soothe

Highlights the effort required to calm someone down.

a struggle to provide reassurance

Emphasizes the active struggle in giving reassurance.

tough to instill confidence

Emphasizes the difficulty in building trust and assurance.

complicated to give confidence

Suggests that instilling confidence involves many intertwined factors.

not easy to pacify

Suggests a struggle to bring someone to a state of peace.

demanding to allay fears

Indicates that reducing someone's fears requires significant effort.

tricky to assuage

Highlights the delicate nature of calming someone's worries.

taxing to reassure

Emphasizes the mental or emotional toll it can take to reassure someone.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to reassure" to describe situations where providing comfort or confidence is challenging. For example: "It was "difficult to reassure" the investors after the company's stock plummeted."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to reassure"?

Alternatives include "hard to comfort", "challenging to soothe", or "tough to instill confidence" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "difficult to reassure"?

Yes, "difficult to reassure" is grammatically correct and commonly used in various contexts, as confirmed by Ludwig AI.

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

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "difficult to reassure" might suggest a more complex or intricate challenge, whereas "hard to reassure" often implies a more straightforward or basic level of difficulty.