Word: arduous (adjective)

Associations

The word "arduous" means something very difficult and requiring a lot of effort, energy, or endurance. It is often used to describe tasks, journeys, or processes that are hard to complete because they need a lot of hard work or patience.

• Climbing a high mountain is an arduous task because it takes strength and time.
• Studying for final exams can be arduous since it requires long hours of focus.
• Building a house from scratch is an arduous process because it involves many complicated steps.

A similar word is "difficult," but "arduous" emphasizes not just difficulty but also the sustained effort and exhaustion involved. "Difficult" can be short or long tasks, but "arduous" usually means long, tiring work.

Substitution

You can replace "arduous" with:

• "challenging" (focuses more on difficulty but less on exhaustion)
• "tough" (more informal, less about length of effort)
• "demanding" (focuses on requiring a lot of effort or skill)
• "strenuous" (emphasizes physical effort)

Example: "The hike was arduous" → "The hike was challenging" (still hard, but less about being tiring for a long time).

Deconstruction

"Arduous" comes from Latin "arduus," meaning "steep" or "difficult to climb." The root relates to things that are hard to do or reach, like climbing a steep hill. The word itself does not have a prefix or suffix in English; it is borrowed directly from Latin.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a task in your life that was arduous? Why was it hard?
• How would you describe a day that felt very tiring and full of hard work using this word?
• Do you think "arduous" fits better for physical or mental challenges? Why?