feel difficult

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "feel difficult" is correct and usable in written English.
You use it to express that something is difficult to do or understand. For example: "I'm finding this math problem difficult to solve; it feels difficult."

✓ Grammatically correct

Academia

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

44 human-written examples

Meditation always presents the subtle temptation to float above it all in a peaceful space rather than build our capacity to take in difficult truths and feel difficult feelings.

Huffington Post

As stated by Jack Kornfield, in The Wise Heart, "Initially, it can feel difficult to offer love to ourself: for many it can trigger feelings of shame and unworthiness..

Huffington Post

It's because creative challenges feel difficult.

Harvard Business Review

Young caregivers are more likely to feel difficult emotions.

Cornell University

Remember that creative problems are supposed to feel difficult.

Harvard Business Review

Whereas Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) often feel difficult to compete with large organisations due to having insufficient resources.

Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

16 human-written examples

First, slow down and notice how you're feeling, and recognize that the stress or anxiety in your body feels difficult.

HuffPost

Everything felt difficult.

The New Yorker

A quick glance into the boxes and it felt difficult to breathe.

The New York Times

This is not to say that if meditation feels difficult, you should just give up.

Harvard Business Review

With food and exercise, too, a simple tool or new habit can make what once felt difficult instead seem effortless.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "feel difficult", ensure the subject experiencing the difficulty is clear. For instance, specify who or what finds something challenging, rather than leaving it ambiguous.

Common error

While acceptable, "feel difficult" can sound less formal. In academic or professional contexts, consider stronger verbs or more precise adjectives to convey the specific nature of the difficulty. For example, instead of "The research feels difficult", try "The research presents significant challenges" or "The research is particularly complex".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "feel difficult" primarily functions as a subjective assessment, where "feel" acts as a linking verb connecting the subject to the adjective "difficult". According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

27%

Science

14%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "feel difficult" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a subjective experience of difficulty. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and frequent appearance across various contexts. While appropriate for many situations, more formal alternatives might be preferable in academic or professional writing. The phrase is most prevalent in news and media, followed by academic and scientific domains, indicating its broad applicability. Remember to be clear about who or what experiences the difficulty and consider alternative expressions for enhanced precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

feel challenging

Replaces "difficult" with "challenging", suggesting a stimulating rather than purely negative difficulty.

feel tough

Uses "tough" to describe the difficulty, implying resilience is needed.

feel arduous

Substitutes "difficult" with "arduous", highlighting the effort required.

feel laborious

Replaces "difficult" with "laborious", focusing on the amount of work involved.

feel problematic

Changes "difficult" to "problematic", indicating the presence of issues.

feel tricky

Uses "tricky" to describe the difficulty, suggesting a need for cleverness.

feel complex

Replaces "difficult" with "complex", highlighting the intricate nature of the situation.

feel demanding

Changes "difficult" to "demanding", indicating high requirements and effort.

feel taxing

Substitutes "difficult" with "taxing", highlighting the depleting effect.

feel strenuous

Replaces "difficult" with "strenuous", focusing on physical or mental exertion.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "feels difficult"?

When something "feels difficult", it means it presents challenges or requires substantial effort to understand or accomplish. It indicates a subjective experience of struggling with a task or concept.

What can I say instead of "feel difficult"?

You can use alternatives like "feel challenging", "feel tough", or "feel arduous" depending on the context.

How to use "feel difficult" in a sentence?

You can say "The task feels difficult" or "It feels difficult to concentrate". The structure is typically "[subject] feels difficult [to + verb]" or "It feels difficult [to + verb]". Consider clarifying what specifically makes it difficult.

Is it better to say "it is difficult" or "it feels difficult"?

"It is difficult" is a more objective statement of difficulty. "It feels difficult" implies a subjective experience of difficulty. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing objective difficulty or personal perception.