difficult
adj.-
1 hard to please (adj.) B1 Intermediatedescribing a person who is not helpful or is hard to satisfy.
characterised by a lack of cooperation or a tendency to be demanding and troublesome.
ExampleThe customer was very difficult and complained about every small detail.
ExampleThe director gained a reputation for being difficult to work with due to his uncompromising nature and frequent last-minute changes to the script.
- uncooperative
- demanding
- troublesome
- easygoing
- cooperative
- helpful
From Middle English difficult (ca. 1400), a back-formation from difficulte (whence modern difficulty), from Old French difficulté, from Latin difficultas, from difficul, older form of difficilis (“hard to do, difficult”), from dis- + facilis (“easy”); see difficile. Replaced native Middle English earveþ (“difficult, hard”), from Old English earfoþe (“difficult, laborious, full of hardship”), cognate to German Arbeit (“work”). The verb is from the adjective, partly after Middle French difficulter and its etymon Latin difficultō. Compare difficilitate, difficultate, and Italian difficoltare.