All Words
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
Word of the Day

arduous

adjective

Involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring; steep and hard to climb.

Intermediate - Known to most educated speakers

Etymology

From Latin arduus meaning "steep, difficult," related to the concept of something high or hard to reach.

Examples in Use

  • 1.

    "The arduous climb to base camp took three days."

  • 2.

    "Learning a new language as an adult is an arduous but rewarding process."

  • 3.

    "The team faced an arduous journey through the desert."

Related Vocabulary

Synonyms

difficultstrenuouslaboriousdemandingtaxing

Related Words

challenginggruelingexhaustingtough

Fun Fact

The original Latin meaning of "steep" connects to the metaphorical sense - just as climbing a steep hill requires effort, so do arduous tasks require us to work hard against resistance.

Word Game Tips

Letters: 7 letters (A, R, D, U, O, U, S)

Scrabble Value: 8 points

Tip: Try building from common prefixes or suffixes when you spot these letters.

Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!

Ready to find words like "arduous" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!