arduous
gb/ˈɑɹd͡ʒuəs/ us/ˈɑɹd͡ʒuəs/
C1
English
~ 9500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
very difficult and tiring
Very hard to do and needing a lot of energy, time, or strength.
Usage pattern:
an arduous [task/journey/process]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use "arduous" to describe a person (*"He is very arduous"*) instead of an activity or experience. Use it for tasks, journeys, processes, or periods of time, not for people. It is also sometimes confused with "ardent" (meaning "very enthusiastic"), but "arduous" is about difficulty and effort, not about strong feelings.
Synonyms
difficult (More common and general; less strong and less formal than "arduous.")
|
laborious (Stresses slow, repeated effort, often for detailed or routine work.)
|
taxing (Emphasizes that something uses up a lot of energy or attention; slightly formal.)
|
grueling (Suggests something extremely exhausting, often physically, more intense than "arduous.")
Antonyms
easy (Describes something that does not require much effort or cause tiredness.)
|
effortless (Stronger than "easy"; suggests something feels like it takes almost no effort.)
Collocations
arduous task
|arduous journey
|arduous process
|arduous climb
|arduous training
|long and arduous
Themes
work
|daily life
|travel
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Completing the report by Friday will be an arduous task for such a small team.
- After months of arduous negotiations, the two sides finally reached an agreement.
- The hike was more arduous than we expected, with steep slopes and loose rocks.
- Training for the marathon was an arduous but rewarding experience.
- Getting a visa can be an arduous process that takes several months.
Learner examples
- Moving to a new country can be an arduous experience.
- Writing the 50-page paper was an arduous task for the students.
- The workers faced an arduous day in the hot sun.
- Studying for the final exam was long and arduous.
unknown
literary
C1
property
2
steep and hard to climb
Describes a road, path, or hill that is very steep and hard to walk or climb on.
Usage pattern:
an arduous [climb/path/journey]
Synonyms
steep (Focuses on the sharp angle of the slope; does not always suggest tiredness as strongly as "arduous.")
|
punishing (Suggests the path or climb is very hard on the body, causing great physical strain.)
Antonyms
gentle (Describes a slope or path that is not steep and is easy to walk on.)
Collocations
arduous climb
|arduous ascent
|arduous trek
|arduous mountain path
Themes
travel
|nature
|space
Examples
- The only route to the village was an arduous path that wound up the mountainside.
- They began the arduous ascent just before sunrise to avoid the heat.
- Even experienced climbers found the final section of the trail arduous.
Learner examples
- We followed an arduous path to the top of the hill.
- The hikers were tired after the arduous climb.
- The road to the farm is long and arduous in winter.
Grammar
Dictionary form
arduous
IPA
GB/ˈɑɹd͡ʒuəs/
US/ˈɑɹd͡ʒuəs/
Syllables & stress
ar - du - ous (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (ar)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: arduous
Word family
Related words
arduously
adverb C1
arduousness
noun
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.