extremely difficult circumstances

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extremely difficult circumstances" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe situations that are particularly challenging or adverse. For example: "She managed to succeed despite the extremely difficult circumstances." Alternative expressions include "very challenging situations" and "highly adverse conditions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

I wrote it under extremely difficult circumstances – Sheila was actually dying during that period.

The Guardian - Music

The workers are doing the best they can, under extremely difficult circumstances".

The New York Times

"Lincoln is striking because he did all this under extremely difficult circumstances," Mr. Bloom said.

The New York Times

"The portfolios are withstanding the test of time in extremely difficult circumstances," he added.

The New York Times

The crew of BA38 did a fantastic job in extremely difficult circumstances.

Independent

"One thing social movements are extremely good at is figuring out creative and imaginative ways under extremely difficult circumstances.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

10 human-written examples

Mercer told the commissioner that extremely difficult family circumstances were in part to blame for the mistakes he made.

The Guardian

Royal Mail chairman Donald Brydon said: "Adam has done and continues to do a remarkable job in leading Royal Mail through a major transformation in extremely difficult market circumstances".

Independent

Donald Brydon, Royal Mail chairman, praised the outgoing Mr Crozier yesterday, saying: "Adam has done and continues to do a remarkable job in leading Royal Mail through a major transformation in extremely difficult market circumstances".

Independent

"I hope it will be that we've dealt with extremely difficult economic circumstances and debts we've inherited, and we've got the country back on the road to both an economic recovery and, I hope, something of a social recovery, too".

The Guardian

Last week, the London-based Zopa closed its Web site aimed at the United States, citing "extremely difficult consumer credit circumstances".

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Pair the phrase with verbs of action such as 'thrive', 'operate' or 'persevere' to highlight success despite the odds.

Common error

Do not add further intensifiers like 'very' before 'extremely'. Since 'extremely' already represents a superlative degree of difficulty, adding 'very' is redundant and weakens the impact of your writing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extremely difficult circumstances" typically functions as the object of a preposition (often 'in' or 'under') within an adverbial phrase. According to Ludwig, it serves to modify the verb by providing context about the adversity surrounding an action. The adverb 'extremely' provides an intensifier for the adjective 'difficult', which in turn qualifies the plural noun 'circumstances'.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

Analysis of real-world data from Ludwig indicates that "extremely difficult circumstances" is a highly effective and grammatically sound phrase for describing intense adversity. It is most prevalent in high-quality journalism and formal reporting, particularly when highlighting the resilience of individuals or organizations. Ludwig AI suggests that while the phrase is a 'Common' staple of the English language, writers should ensure they do not dilute its impact with redundant intensifiers. It remains a gold standard for acknowledging hardship in a professional and empathetic manner.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly adverse conditions

Shifts the focus from the 'circumstances' to environmental or situational 'conditions' with a more formal tone.

exceptionally challenging situations

Uses 'challenging' as a slightly more professional or proactive alternative to 'difficult'.

unusually arduous circumstances

Increases the level of formality and emphasizes the labor or effort required to overcome the situation.

severely trying times

Focuses on the temporal aspect and the emotional or physical toll of the hardship.

extraordinarily demanding situations

Highlights the high level of skill or resources needed to manage the circumstances.

immensely harsh environments

Often used when the difficulty is related to physical or geographical settings.

formidable challenges

Replaces the noun phrase with a more direct adjective-noun pair focusing on the obstacle itself.

incredibly tough positions

More informal and often relates to a specific individual's standing or dilemma.

particularly grim conditions

Adds a descriptive nuance of hopelessness or severity to the difficulty.

deeply problematic settings

Focuses on the structural or logical issues within a given context.

FAQs

How do I use "extremely difficult circumstances" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a backdrop of hardship, for example: "The medical team worked under "extremely difficult circumstances" to save the patients."

What can I say instead of "extremely difficult circumstances"?

Depending on your context, you can use more technical terms like "highly adverse conditions" or more descriptive phrases like "severely trying times".

Is it correct to say "extremely difficult circumstances" in a business report?

Yes, it is highly appropriate. It conveys a professional yet serious tone when explaining obstacles, similar to using "exceptionally challenging situations".

What is the difference between "difficult situations" and "extremely difficult circumstances"?

The main difference lies in intensity and scope. "extremely difficult circumstances" suggests a broader, more pervasive set of external factors that are at the absolute limit of what can be managed, whereas "difficult situations" can refer to minor or isolated problems.