arduous

[ ahr-joo-uhs or, esp. British, ahr-dyoo- ]
/ ˈɑr dʒu əs or, esp. British, ˈɑr dyu- /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR arduous ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

requiring great exertion; laborious; difficult: an arduous undertaking.
requiring or using much energy and vigor; strenuous: making an arduous effort.
hard to climb; steep: an arduous path up the hill.
hard to endure; full of hardships; severe: an arduous winter.

Origin of arduous

1530–40; < Latin arduus erect, steep, laborious; see -ous

OTHER WORDS FROM arduous

Words nearby arduous

ardipithecus ramidus, ardmore, ardor, ardour, ards, arduous, ardèche, are, area, area bombing, area code

Words related to arduous

uphill, onerous, trying, tough, grueling, backbreaking, tiring, exhausting, burdensome, strenuous, formidable, rigorous, troublesome, laborious, painful, harsh, heavy, labored, murder, punishing

Example sentences from the Web for arduous

British Dictionary definitions for arduous

arduous
/ (ˈɑːdjʊəs) /

adjective

requiring great physical or mental effort; difficult to accomplish; strenuous
hard to endure; harsh arduous conditions
hard to overcome or surmount; steep or difficult an arduous track

Derived forms of arduous

arduously, adverb arduousness, noun

Word Origin for arduous

C16: from Latin arduus steep, difficult