difficulty

(noun) an effort that is inconvenient. Synonyms: trouble. Examples: "I went to a lot of trouble." "He won without any trouble." "Had difficulty walking." "Finished the test only with great difficulty."

(noun) a factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result. Examples: "Serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent."

(noun) a condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome. Examples: "Grappling with financial difficulties."

(noun) the quality of being difficult. Synonyms: difficultness. Examples: "They agreed about the difficulty of the climb."