extremely difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

"extremely difficult" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize that something is very difficult to accomplish. For example: "The final exam was extremely difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Extremely difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

Hedging is extremely difficult.

The Economist

"It was extremely difficult.

The New York Times

It's extremely difficult.

The New York Times - Sports

School was extremely difficult.

The Guardian

"Logistics are extremely difficult.

The Guardian

And that's extremely difficult.

Harvard Business Review

It's an extremely difficult issue.

Independent

I find it extremely difficult.

The New Yorker

But it's been extremely difficult".

The New York Times - Sports

And that is extremely difficult".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When emphasizing the degree of difficulty, consider the context. "Extremely difficult" works well in formal and informal settings, but alternatives like "incredibly challenging" or "particularly arduous" might be more impactful depending on your audience and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Common error

While "extremely difficult" is acceptable, avoid overusing intensifiers like "extremely", "very", or "incredibly" in your writing. Frequent use can weaken your message. Instead, try to convey the difficulty through specific details and strong verbs.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely difficult" primarily functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or pronoun to describe its level of difficulty. As Ludwig AI confirms, the examples show it is used to emphasize the degree of hardship or challenge associated with something.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

6%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extremely difficult" is a versatile adjectival phrase used to emphasize a high degree of challenge across various contexts. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically sound and commonly used. It appears most frequently in news and media, and it’s generally considered neutral in register. While appropriate for both formal and informal writing, be mindful of overusing intensifiers. Consider alternatives such as "incredibly challenging" or "particularly arduous" for greater nuance, but avoid redundant phrases such as "very extremely difficult".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incredibly challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging" and "extremely" with "incredibly", suggesting a test of one's abilities.

exceptionally demanding

Replaces "difficult" with "demanding" and "extremely" with "exceptionally", highlighting the high requirements and effort involved.

particularly arduous

Uses "arduous" to emphasize the effort and difficulty involved, and "particularly" for emphasis.

remarkably complicated

Substitutes "difficult" with "complicated" and "extremely" with "remarkably", focusing on the intricacy and complexity of the matter.

prohibitively taxing

Replaces "difficult" with "taxing", emphasizing the strain and burden, while "prohibitively" suggests a discouraging level of difficulty.

terribly onerous

Uses "onerous" to stress the burdensome nature of the task, with "terribly" adding emphasis.

singularly perplexing

Replaces "difficult" with "perplexing" and "extremely" with "singularly", highlighting the confusing nature of the situation.

distinctly trying

Substitutes "difficult" with "trying" and "extremely" with "distinctly", emphasizing the frustrating aspect of the difficulty.

seriously problematic

Replaces "difficult" with "problematic" and "extremely" with "seriously", focusing on the issues and potential negative consequences.

highly intricate

Replaces the entire phrase, highlighting that something is very detailed and complicated.

FAQs

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

You can use "extremely difficult" to describe tasks, situations, or concepts that present a significant challenge. For instance, "The exam was extremely difficult", or "Navigating the legal system can be extremely difficult".

What are some alternatives to "extremely difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "incredibly challenging", "exceptionally demanding", or "particularly arduous" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it redundant to say "very extremely difficult"?

Yes, using "very" before "extremely" is generally considered redundant. "Extremely" already implies a high degree of difficulty, so adding "very" doesn't add significant emphasis and can make your writing sound less polished.

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

It is appropriate to use "extremely difficult" in formal writing when you need to clearly and directly convey a high level of challenge. However, consider whether more precise or nuanced language, such as "prohibitively taxing" or "remarkably complicated", might be more effective in conveying the specific nature of the difficulty.