very difficult to bear

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "very difficult to bear" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or feeling that is hard to endure or tolerate. Example: "The loss of her beloved pet was very difficult to bear, leaving her heartbroken for weeks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

They must have found the spectacle very difficult to bear.

The Guardian

The Goshawk is a painful read, and I still find White's relationship with his hawk very difficult to bear.

The Guardian - Books

"[They] would cry for food" she says, "as I could not earn sufficient money to feed them or myself...and as a mother it was very difficult to bear".

The Guardian

But even so, the sheer glut of bloody acts, rapes and torture can be very difficult to bear.

Huffington Post

Having to watch how so many places known to me became the scene for military conflicts --how more and more people had to abandon their destroyed houses and wander around without protection -- was very difficult to bear.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

It is a kind of bone tossed to the fans, letting them know that no matter how fast and furious the action of the game, Star Trek Voyager is still in touch with its core audience: people who are very difficult to bore.

The New York Times - Tech

"It's very difficult to accept".

The New York Times

It's very difficult to be a bear in an institution that wants to sell obligations and instruments.

The New York Times

Acute dental pain was that pain that was difficult to bear and was very disturbing to the patient necessitating the use of analgesics or further intervention.

BMC Oral Health

"It's very difficult to be objective".

The New York Times

It's very difficult to break in.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "very difficult to bear" when you want to emphasize the intensity of emotional or physical hardship. For instance, "The news of the accident was very difficult to bear."

Common error

Avoid using "very difficult to bear" too frequently in your writing, as it can diminish its impact. Consider using stronger, more specific verbs or adjectives to convey the difficulty directly.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "very difficult to bear" functions as an adjectival phrase modifying a noun or pronoun. It describes something, whether a situation, feeling, or event, as being challenging or painful to endure. Ludwig AI's examples confirm its use in various contexts where something is hard to tolerate.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "very difficult to bear" is a grammatically sound and usable expression that describes something hard to endure or tolerate. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides examples from reliable news and media sources. While it's not the most frequently used phrase, it effectively conveys a strong sense of hardship or suffering. When writing, be mindful of overusing it and consider alternatives like "extremely hard to endure" to add variety and maintain impact. Use it to emphasize the intensity of emotional or physical hardship.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely hard to endure

Emphasizes the intensity of the difficulty and the act of enduring.

incredibly tough to handle

Focuses on the challenge of managing or dealing with something.

exceedingly challenging to cope with

Highlights the struggle to adapt and manage a situation.

exceptionally hard to stomach

Implies that something is unpleasant or offensive to accept.

particularly painful to experience

Stresses the emotional distress caused by something.

remarkably tough to tolerate

Underscores the difficulty in accepting or allowing something.

unusually arduous to put up with

Highlights the demanding nature of enduring something.

highly distressing to undergo

Focuses on the suffering experienced during a process or event.

terribly hard to live through

Implies surviving a difficult time or event.

especially unbearable to withstand

Emphasizes the impossibility of enduring something.

FAQs

How can I use "very difficult to bear" in a sentence?

You can use "very difficult to bear" to describe something that is hard to endure or tolerate. For example, "The grief was "very difficult to bear" after losing her mother".

What are some alternatives to "very difficult to bear"?

Some alternatives include "extremely hard to endure", "incredibly tough to handle", or "exceptionally hard to stomach", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "very difficult to bear"?

Yes, "very difficult to bear" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English to describe something that is hard to endure.

What is the difference between "difficult to bear" and "very difficult to bear"?

Adding "very" intensifies the phrase, emphasizing a higher degree of difficulty in enduring something. "Difficult to bear" implies hardship, while "very difficult to bear" suggests a much greater level of hardship.