difficult to satisfy

USAGE SUMMARY

"difficult to satisfy" is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to describe a situation or person that is hard to please or that has a lot of strict or complex requirements. Example Sentence: The current job market is very difficult to satisfy for those without any experience.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

That standard is difficult to satisfy.

The New York Times

It is difficult to satisfy and impossible to put aside.

Independent

Conrad writes in his memoir, "It was difficult to satisfy Alice Toklas's tastes, which were still extravagant.

The New Yorker

To all of these issues he brought his own expectation of perfection, which his converts often found difficult to satisfy.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Governments in Ireland, Greece and even Britain are also finding it difficult to satisfy both bond investors and voters.

The New York Times

The rule, proposed earlier this year, drew significant criticism from companies that said it would be difficult to satisfy and predicted it could lead to less accurate filings.

The New York Times

Such complaints are difficult to satisfy, but new high-end extended-stay hotels hope to raise aesthetics, as well as rates.

The New York Times

They struggle to recruit and retain teachers, and some – because of their size – find it difficult to satisfy Ofsted's requirements for a broad and balanced curriculum.

The Guardian

Or are you an employer finding it difficult to satisfy new recruits and want to know what you should be concentrating on to secure the best candidates?

The Guardian - Money

Those who grew up partly in the cities with their parents have expectations of a comfortable life that are more difficult to satisfy.

The Economist

Even in New York, a famously polyglot city that has, for example, three restaurants specializing in the food of the Uighur people of he Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, a yearning for Singapore hawker food is surprisingly difficult to satisfy.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To emphasize the degree of difficulty, combine "difficult to satisfy" with adverbs like "very", "extremely", or "increasingly".

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to satisfy" in very simple or straightforward scenarios where simpler alternatives like "hard to achieve" or "tough to meet" would suffice. Save it for situations that genuinely involve complex or nuanced requirements.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to satisfy" functions as an adjective phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe something or someone that is hard to please or whose requirements are challenging to meet. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is used to depict situations where complex or strict conditions exist.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "difficult to satisfy" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression that describes something or someone hard to please or whose requirements are challenging to meet. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s suitable for use across various registers, from formal academic writing to news reporting. The phrase is particularly common in scientific and news contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context involves complex requirements or nuanced conditions, and consider alternatives like "hard to please" or "challenging to fulfill" for simpler situations. The many examples available in Ludwig underline this phrase’s utility in conveying the complexities of meeting expectations across diverse fields.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to please

Focuses on the challenge of making someone happy or content.

challenging to fulfill

Emphasizes the effort required to meet requirements or expectations.

tough to meet

Highlights the difficulty in achieving a specific goal or standard.

not easily pleased

Underlines the rare occurrence of contentment in someone.

demanding to gratify

Focuses on the high standards required to bring satisfaction.

exacting to appease

Stresses the meticulousness needed to pacify or satisfy.

unlikely to content

Suggests a low probability of achieving satisfaction.

a tall order to satisfy

Highlights the significant effort and difficulty involved in satisfying someone or something.

not a simple task to gratify

Emphasizes the complexity and difficulty in achieving satisfaction.

presenting a challenge for satisfaction

Highlights the problematic or complex nature of achieving a satisfied state.

FAQs

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

You can use "difficult to satisfy" to describe something or someone that has high expectations or complex needs. For example, "The new regulations are "difficult to satisfy" for small businesses."

What are some alternatives to "difficult to satisfy"?

Alternatives to "difficult to satisfy" include "hard to please", "challenging to fulfill", or "tough to meet", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "difficult to satisfy" or "hard to satisfy"?

Both "difficult to satisfy" and "hard to satisfy" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Difficult" tends to be slightly more formal than "hard."

In what contexts is "difficult to satisfy" most appropriate?

"Difficult to satisfy" is best used in contexts where there are complex or nuanced requirements that make it challenging to meet expectations. This might include technical specifications, customer demands, or regulatory standards.