Arduous
/ˈɑːrdʒuəs/
Definitions
Extremely difficult or laborious.
/ˈɑːrdʒuəs/
Requiring great exertion; laborious.
The climb was arduous, requiring much stamina and strength.
💡 Simply: Very hard and tiring.
More Examples
She completed the arduous task of cleaning the entire house.
How It's Used
"The students faced an arduous task of completing the research paper before the deadline."
"The hikers embarked on an arduous journey through the mountainous terrain."
From Latin *arduus "steep, difficult," related to *ardere "to burn." The sense of difficulty likely stems from the exertion involved in climbing steep terrain.
The word has maintained its core meaning of difficulty and exertion throughout its history, though its usage frequency has fluctuated.
Memory tip
Think of 'arduous' as 'ardent' + 'duous' - requiring fervent and difficult effort.
Word Origin
"steep, difficult"