uphill
adj.adj. describing something that is difficult and requires a lot of effort over a long time. You can also use it to describe a path that goes toward the top of a hill.
adj. requiring significant effort and persistence over a prolonged period; also describes a physical incline or slope rising upward. Often used in the phrase 'an uphill battle' to describe a difficult situation.
Winning the race will be an uphill battle for the new team.
The hikers struggled to maintain their pace on the steep uphill trail as the sun began to set.
Convincing the board to approve such a radical shift in company policy proved to be an uphill struggle, requiring months of data and intense negotiation.
From up + hill.
Often used figuratively to describe tasks or struggles; typically precedes the noun it modifies.
the road is very uphillthe road is very steepWhile 'uphill' describes the direction or the nature of a task, 'steep' is the correct word for describing the angle of a slope.