prodigious difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "prodigious difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a level of difficulty that is remarkably great or impressive. Example: "The project presented prodigious difficulty, requiring months of research and collaboration to overcome the challenges."

✓ Grammatically correct

Encyclopedias

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

One prodigious difficulty is that no covering laws of history have been discovered.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

On the ground with the Special Forces, she finds that their prodigious combat training has not prepared them for such difficulties as persuading rival Afghan tribes to live side by side, or fielding a request for sewing machines from a Serbian women's collective.

The New Yorker

Cope's own rapid and prodigious output of scientific papers meant that Marsh had no difficulty in finding occasional errors to lambast Cope with.

Wikipedia

Sherry's sluggish pace owes something to the difficulty of summing up the career of this stunningly prodigious writer.

The New Yorker

Prodigious activities beckoned.

The New York Times - Arts

The slaughter was prodigious.

The New York Times

Beard's output is prodigious.

The New Yorker

He has performed prodigious labors.

The New Yorker

It is a prodigious challenge.

The New York Times

Wilder's learning was prodigious.

The New York Times - Books

His fame was prodigious, though.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In academic or formal contexts, use "prodigious difficulty" to underscore the significant challenges encountered during research or analysis. This highlights the depth of the problem.

Common error

Avoid using "prodigious difficulty" in casual or informal settings. The phrase's formality can sound out of place and overly verbose in everyday conversation; simpler terms such as "huge problem" or "major challenge" are more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "prodigious difficulty" functions as an adjective-noun combination. "Prodigious" modifies "difficulty", emphasizing its exceptional magnitude. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Encyclopedias

33%

Wiki

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "prodigious difficulty" is a grammatically correct and formal phrase used to describe a challenge that is exceptionally large or complex. While relatively rare, as shown by Ludwig's examples, it is most appropriate in formal writing, academic contexts, or professional settings. As Ludwig AI confirms, its formality makes it less suitable for casual conversation, where simpler alternatives may be preferred. Alternatives include "immense challenge", "tremendous obstacle", and "formidable hurdle".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

immense challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with "challenge" and "prodigious" with "immense", highlighting the demanding nature of the situation.

tremendous obstacle

Substitutes "difficulty" with "obstacle" and "prodigious" with "tremendous", emphasizing the hindering aspect.

formidable hurdle

Replaces "difficulty" with "hurdle" and "prodigious" with "formidable", suggesting something that needs to be overcome with effort.

significant impediment

Changes "difficulty" to "impediment" and "prodigious" to "significant", focusing on the hindering aspect and considerable impact.

major complication

Replaces "difficulty" with "complication" and "prodigious" with "major", indicating a factor that makes something more involved.

substantial problem

Substitutes "difficulty" with "problem" and "prodigious" with "substantial", highlighting a significant issue.

considerable setback

Changes "difficulty" to "setback" and "prodigious" to "considerable", implying a hindrance to progress.

extreme hardship

Replaces "difficulty" with "hardship" and "prodigious" with "extreme", emphasizing the severe nature of the difficulty.

intense struggle

Substitutes "difficulty" with "struggle" and "prodigious" with "intense", highlighting the effort required to overcome the difficulty.

exceptional challenge

Replaces "prodigious" with "exceptional", focusing on the unusual or extraordinary nature of the challenge.

FAQs

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

You can use "prodigious difficulty" to describe a problem that is exceptionally large or challenging. For example, "The project presented "prodigious difficulty", requiring months of research to resolve."

What are some alternatives to "prodigious difficulty"?

Some alternatives include "immense challenge", "tremendous obstacle", or "formidable hurdle". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

In what contexts is "prodigious difficulty" most appropriate?

"Prodigious difficulty" is most suitable in formal writing, academic papers, or professional reports where you want to emphasize the significant scale or complexity of a challenge. Avoid using it in casual conversation.

Is "prodigious difficulty" the same as "great difficulty"?

While both phrases describe a challenging situation, "prodigious difficulty" suggests a problem of exceptionally large scale or complexity. "Great difficulty" is a more general term, while "prodigious difficulty" emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the problem.