excessively difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessively difficult" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe something that is more difficult than what is considered reasonable or manageable. An example: "The exam was excessively difficult, leaving many students feeling overwhelmed." Alternative expressions include "unduly difficult" and "overly challenging."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

24 human-written examples

But the Home Office seems to want to make it excessively difficult for people.

The Guardian

The Buildings Department position is that getting permits and approval from the city for restaurants is not excessively difficult.

The New York Times - Food

Hammer knew that the committee's chair, Representative Carlos Trujillo, a Miami Republican, was against the measure; he felt that it would make the jobs of prosecutors excessively difficult.

The New Yorker

Oil-frying is part of the holiday's food tradition, but making doughnuts at home seems excessively difficult — especially on the same night you're cooking endless batches of latkes.

The New York Times - Food

The results of this examination validated that knowledge requirements were excessively difficult to fulfill and the collection system is not sufficiently convenient.

Waste Management

I will...recommend this handsome work as a challenge to choruses anywhere, as a bracing and inspired setting of inspiring texts, and one that is not excessively difficult or impractical to perform.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

36 human-written examples

Teller now says that "Lonsberry" was "a difficult, excessively cerebral show," and that's about the best thing anybody has ever said about it.

The New Yorker

But not being able to use an excessively large, incredibly difficult to import exotic Asian land mammal to plow cotton?

Huffington Post

In all cases the corneas became microscopically opaque after 6 days, were excessively dehydrated and difficult to generate cell cultures from.

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology

"So not excessively excessive.

The New York Times

However, in such cases the underlying data can be excessively noisy, making it difficult to extract meaningful results.

Polymer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "excessively difficult" to convey that something is not just hard, but unreasonably so. This adds a layer of judgment about the appropriateness of the difficulty.

Common error

While effective, "excessively difficult" can become repetitive. Vary your language by using alternatives like "unduly challenging" or "overly complicated" to keep your writing engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessively difficult" functions as an adverb-adjective combination, modifying a noun or pronoun. The adverb "excessively" intensifies the adjective "difficult", indicating a degree of difficulty beyond the norm. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase's correct usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

42%

News & Media

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Academia

4%

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "excessively difficult" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe something that is unreasonably challenging. As per Ludwig AI, it’s considered correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, particularly within scientific and news media. When writing, ensure that using "excessively difficult" is appropriate by assessing whether something is not just hard, but inappropriately so, and remember to diversify your phrasing to avoid repetition. While the phrase is broadly applicable, it's important to use it purposefully and avoid overuse, ensuring clarity and impact in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unduly challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "excessively" with "unduly", emphasizing the inappropriateness of the challenge.

overly complicated

Shifts the focus to the complexity of the task rather than just its difficulty.

inordinately demanding

Emphasizes the high level of demands or requirements placed on someone or something.

unreasonably hard

Uses simpler language to convey the idea of something being more difficult than it should be.

prohibitively tough

Indicates that the difficulty is so great that it prevents success or participation.

exceptionally arduous

Highlights the strenuous and laborious nature of the task.

extremely taxing

Focuses on the draining or burdensome aspect of the difficulty.

onerously burdensome

Stresses the heavy and oppressive nature of the difficulty.

impractically challenging

Implies that the challenge is so great as to render the task not feasible or realistic.

unmanageably complex

Suggests that the situation's complexity makes it hard to deal with.

FAQs

How can I use "excessively difficult" in a sentence?

You can use "excessively difficult" to describe tasks, situations, or concepts that are not just challenging, but unreasonably so. For example, "The exam was excessively difficult, and many students failed."

What are some alternatives to "excessively difficult"?

Alternatives include "unduly challenging", "overly complicated", or "inordinately demanding". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "excessively difficult"?

While "difficult" already implies a degree of challenge, "excessively difficult" emphasizes that the level of difficulty is beyond what is reasonable or expected. The phrase isn't inherently redundant, but its use should be purposeful.

When is it appropriate to use "excessively difficult" in formal writing?

It is appropriate to use "excessively difficult" in formal writing when you want to express that something is not just hard but unreasonably or inappropriately so. Ensure that this judgment is supported by evidence or context.