intense difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

"intense difficulty" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a challenging or complex task that requires a great deal of effort and concentration. For example: "The math problem the students attempted was of an intense difficulty that most of them could not solve without help."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

I have heard artists in their 30s and 40s speak of the intense difficulty of getting new ideas accepted by galleries or potential buyers.

The Guardian - Arts

Set in feudal Japan, its strange majesty and intense difficulty made it well worth tracking down, especially for those unafraid of a challenge.

The Guardian - Tech

This observation, experts say, may explain the intense difficulty addicts have staying clean, as the ordinary rewards of daily life may have little effect on the recovering brain.

The New York Times - Science

He is at his glorious best in We Found a Hat, which, with a minimum of words and the sparest of pictures, wittily captures the intense difficulty of sharing.

The Guardian - Books

The intense difficulty for parents is often that a gender has to be chosen very quickly so that the new child can be registered with the authorities, the BBC's Steve Evans in Berlin reports.

BBC

We say this to people all of the time: don't get disappointed if you get frustrated, or feel intense difficulty.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Parent firm Circle Holdings' expected introduction to the Alternative Investment Market on Thursday will refocus concern over the involvement of the private sector in the NHS in the wake of the intense difficulties besetting Southern Cross Healthcare.

The Guardian - Business

When I first entered the field and was applying for teaching jobs across the country, I confidently answered application questions about how I cope with intense difficulties and setbacks.

Huffington Post

Khakpour both embodies this figure admiring her terminally ill aunt, who Khakpour describes as the "vaguely tragic and uncontainable and iconoclastic"—and bucks against it through writing about the intense difficulties of fighting for treatment.

Vice

Among many humanitarian providers the allocation decisions that elicit the most intense ethical difficulty are those that address individual cases of extreme and urgent need.

Conflict and Health

The current findings extend prior research in adult samples [ 1– 3, 7] and children and adolescent samples [ 5, 9] which have shown that symptoms of intense yearning, difficulties to accept the loss, anger, and a sense that life is meaningless constitute a unique cluster of grief symptoms that can be distinguished from other emotional symptoms that can occur post-loss.

European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "intense difficulty" to describe situations that demand significant effort, concentration, and resilience.

Common error

Avoid using "intense difficulty" for minor challenges. Reserve it for situations where the level of complexity or hardship is truly significant. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing sound melodramatic.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intense difficulty" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "intense" modifies the noun "difficulty". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage, and examples show it describing challenging situations or tasks.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

46%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "intense difficulty" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to describe situations requiring significant effort and concentration. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, highlighting examples from diverse sources like news outlets, scientific publications, and wikis. While versatile, it's best suited for scenarios involving genuine complexity or hardship, as overuse can dilute its impact. Alternatives such as "extreme challenge" or "severe hardship" offer nuanced ways to express similar meanings. When writing, remember that "intense difficulty" should be reserved for situations where the level of complexity or hardship is truly significant to prevent your writing from sounding melodramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extreme challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with a more action-oriented word, emphasizing the demanding nature of the situation.

severe hardship

Focuses on the negative impact and suffering associated with the difficulty.

acute struggle

Highlights the active effort required to overcome the difficulty.

considerable complexity

Emphasizes the intricate and multifaceted nature of the difficulty.

profound adversity

Suggests a deep and significant challenge that must be faced.

major obstacle

Presents the difficulty as a barrier that hinders progress.

significant impediment

Highlights the hindering effect of the difficulty on achieving a goal.

formidable task

Frames the difficulty as a daunting and challenging undertaking.

arduous undertaking

Stresses the demanding and laborious nature of the task.

onerous burden

Emphasizes the heavy and oppressive nature of the difficulty.

FAQs

How can I use "intense difficulty" in a sentence?

You can use "intense difficulty" to describe situations or tasks that are very challenging. For example, "The students faced "intense difficulty" while trying to solve the complex equation."

What are some alternatives to "intense difficulty"?

Some alternatives include "extreme challenge", "severe hardship", or "acute struggle", depending on the specific context.

Is "intense difficulty" a formal or informal phrase?

"Intense difficulty" can be used in both formal and informal contexts, although it's more common in formal writing and speech due to its descriptive nature.

What makes "intense difficulty" different from "slight difficulty"?

"Intense difficulty" implies a high degree of complexity and effort required, while "slight difficulty" suggests a minor challenge that is easily overcome.