with enormous difficulty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "with enormous difficulty" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation or task that is very challenging or requires significant effort to accomplish. Example: "She completed the marathon with enormous difficulty, pushing through the pain and exhaustion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The answer is, with enormous difficulty.

The Guardian - Opinion

Indeed many of the MDGs cannot be met, or can be met only with enormous difficulty, in the absence of modern energy services.

The Guardian

Because Israeli governments fall with ease and are formed with enormous difficulty, calls for reform of the electoral system are increasing.

The New York Times

Van Helsing counters that not every phenomenon has a rational explanation: "Do you not think that there are things in the world which you cannot understand, and yet which are?" Throughout the novel, these self-assured people have to be convinced, with enormous difficulty, that there is something beyond their ken.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Determining the geographic location, material culture, and linguistic characteristics of the earliest stages of Uralic at a period thousands of years prior to any historical record is a problem beset with enormous difficulties; consensus among Uralic scholars is limited to a handful of general hypotheses.

Encyclopedia Britannica

People with this diagnosis have enormous difficulty making decisions.

The New York Times - Health

"There's nowhere where you can build a country within two years with such enormous difficulties," he said.

The New York Times

As WFP's Dina El-Kassaby pleads, "All of us must stand by the people of Syria and help them cope with the enormous difficulties they face so that they do not give up hope".

Huffington Post

Borrowers are frequently foreclosed on after being promised loan modifications from their banks, and have enormous difficulty communicating with banks that claim to lose tremendous volumes of paperwork.

Huffington Post

He had enormous difficulty ("dzeefeecooltsee," in Pninian English) with depalatization, never managing to remove the extra Russian moisture from "t"s and "d"s before the vowels he so quaintly softened.

The New Yorker

The enormous difficulty lies in reconciling pious hopes with practical change.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "with enormous difficulty", ensure the context clearly illustrates the magnitude and impact of the challenge being faced. Provide specific details to highlight the severity of the situation.

Common error

Avoid using "with enormous difficulty" when the challenge is only moderately difficult. Overusing the phrase can diminish its impact and make your writing seem hyperbolic. Reserve it for truly significant struggles.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "with enormous difficulty" functions as an adverbial prepositional phrase, modifying a verb or clause to describe the manner in which an action is performed. As Ludwig AI suggests, it indicates a task or situation accomplished despite significant obstacles.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Encyclopedias

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "with enormous difficulty" is a grammatically correct and usable prepositional phrase, as affirmed by Ludwig AI, that describes actions accomplished despite facing significant challenges. While not exceedingly common, it finds consistent use across news, encyclopedic, and scientific contexts. When employing this phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects the magnitude of the difficulty to avoid overstatement. Alternatives such as "with great struggle" or "with considerable effort" can offer nuanced variations in meaning. Remember to reserve this phrase for situations where the struggle is truly significant.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

with immense challenge

Replaces "difficulty" with a synonym that indicates a demanding situation.

with great struggle

Emphasizes the active struggle involved in overcoming the difficulty.

not without a struggle

Uses a double negative to indirectly express the presence of difficulty.

with considerable effort

Focuses on the effort expended rather than the degree of difficulty itself.

facing considerable obstacles

Highlights the presence of obstacles that contribute to the difficulty.

through considerable hardship

Shifts focus to the hardship experienced while dealing with the difficulty.

with much adversity

Focuses on the adverse conditions faced rather than the difficulty itself.

against significant odds

Highlights the unfavorable conditions present during the attempt.

encountering substantial resistance

Emphasizes the opposition or resistance met during the process.

with extreme exertion

Highlights the physical or mental effort required.

FAQs

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

The phrase "with enormous difficulty" typically describes how someone performs an action or achieves a goal when faced with significant challenges. For example, "She completed the project with enormous difficulty due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "with enormous difficulty"?

You can use alternatives such as "with great struggle", "with considerable effort", or "against significant odds" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "with enormous difficulty" or "with great difficulty"?

"With enormous difficulty" and "with great difficulty" are both grammatically correct. "Enormous" suggests a higher degree of challenge than "great", so choose the phrase that best reflects the magnitude of the struggle involved.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "with enormous difficulty"?

Avoid using "with enormous difficulty" when the situation is only mildly challenging or when the effort required is not particularly significant. Overusing it can weaken its impact and make your writing sound exaggerated.