growing with difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "growing with difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process of development or progress that is challenging or fraught with obstacles. Example: "The startup has been growing with difficulty due to the competitive market and limited resources."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

But liberty is generally born in stormy weather, growing with difficulty amid civil discords, and only when it is already old does one see the blessings it has brought.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Indeed, the major colonists in our control subjects were anaerobes such as Prevotella spp., which can only be grown with difficulty in culture.

Plosone

The growing difficulties with Spain over trading matters in the West Indies were used by this opposition to embarrass Walpole.

Encyclopedia Britannica

It also serves to give masses of people with growing economic difficulties the impression that "other people" are experiencing a recovery.

The Guardian - Opinion

Arthropods can never achieve the body size of the larger vertebrates, in which the bones grow with the body, because the mechanical difficulties of molting would be too great.

Encyclopedia Britannica

With the growing difficulty to prevent radicalization and rehabilitate militants, there is a lot more that needs to be done by parents, imams, scholars, teachers and the entire society to promote the message of mercy and compassion.

Huffington Post

It is stated that the difficulty of pose-independent identification task grows with the size of the gallery [21].

EURASIP Journal on Image and Video Processing

"This is the market signaling there is a problem," said Jan Stuart, global oil economist at UBS, "that there is a growing difficulty to meet demand with new supplies".

The New York Times

Providing high dynamic contents, integrating with huge databases and offering all sorts of complex and secure transactions, these internet applications are faced with growing difficulties to ensure adequate QoS [1].

Journal of Internet Services and Applications

Keypoints The rising number of deaths from cancer and other life-limiting illnesses confronts society with growing difficulties in terms of care organization.

European Journal of Public Health

What researchers have noticed, and often with some unease, is the growing difficulty of defining religion in a world characterized by exponential transformation.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "growing with difficulty", ensure the context clearly identifies the source or cause of the difficulty to provide a complete understanding of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "growing with difficulty" when the growth is simply slow or gradual. Reserve the phrase for situations where significant obstacles or challenges are present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "growing with difficulty" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun (often implied) to describe its state of development. As Ludwig AI states, this usage is considered valid in written English, indicating a process marked by challenges.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

31%

Science

31%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "growing with difficulty" effectively describes a process of development or increase that is accompanied by significant challenges or obstacles. While grammatically correct, as noted by Ludwig AI, its frequency is relatively rare. It's commonly found in news and media, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly explains the nature of the difficulties encountered. Alternatives like "developing laboriously" or "progressing arduously" can be used for semantic variation. However, it's important to only use the phrase when the hardships encountered are considerable, and not just referring to slow or gradual growth.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

developing laboriously

Focuses on the effort and exertion required for development.

progressing arduously

Emphasizes the challenging and strenuous nature of the progress.

advancing with hardship

Directly states that advancement is accompanied by considerable difficulty.

building up strenuously

Highlights the effort involved in constructing or developing something over time.

evolving slowly and painfully

Highlights the gradual and potentially unpleasant nature of the evolution.

expanding despite setbacks

Focuses on the continuation of expansion even when faced with obstacles.

maturing under pressure

Suggests external forces contribute to the difficulties faced during maturation.

increasing incrementally with challenges

Highlights both the small steps of increase and the presence of ongoing challenges.

flourishing against the odds

Implies success despite significant challenges and unfavorable conditions.

becoming stronger through adversity

Suggests that difficulty ultimately leads to increased strength and resilience.

FAQs

What does "growing with difficulty" mean?

The phrase "growing with difficulty" describes a process of development or increase that is marked by significant challenges, obstacles, or hardship.

How can I use "growing with difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "growing with difficulty" to describe anything that is developing or increasing in a way that is not easy or straightforward. For example: "The business has been "growing with difficulty" due to economic downturn."

What are some alternatives to "growing with difficulty"?

Some alternatives to "growing with difficulty" include "developing laboriously", "progressing arduously", or "evolving slowly and painfully".

Is it more common to say "growing with difficulty" or "growing with ease"?

"Growing with ease" implies a smooth and untroubled development, while "growing with difficulty" suggests a development marked by challenges. Both are grammatically correct, but their appropriateness depends on the specific context.