Arduous
/ˈɑːrdʒuəs/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Arduous describes tasks or activities that are hard to do because they require a lot of physical or mental effort. It often suggests something tiring and challenging that takes time and strong determination to complete.
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See It in Action
Very difficult and tiring task or activity
- •Climbing the mountain was an arduous journey for the hikers.
- •Writing the thesis was an arduous process that took many months.
- •The soldiers faced arduous conditions during the long march.
Requiring great effort and determination
- •Learning a new language can be an arduous task but very rewarding.
- •The team completed the arduous project after many long days of work.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "arduous" like "hard," but much stronger and longer-lasting—like a very long and tough climb instead of a small step
- ✓Picture climbing a steep mountain under the hot sun, feeling tired but needing to keep going
- ✓It’s the feeling when you work on a difficult school project for many hours and feel exhausted but proud after finishing
- ✓Sounds like "ARE-joo-us" → imagine someone saying "Are you us?" when asking if you can do something very difficult together
- ✓Think of famous stories where heroes face long, difficult journeys, like climbing Mount Everest or crossing a desert
- ✓NOT like "easy" (simple and quick), "arduous" means the opposite — very challenging and tiring
- ✓NOT like "quick" (fast), "arduous" means slow and requiring steady effort
- ✓NOT like "fun" or "simple," it describes serious, tough work or effort
Try Other Words
- •Difficult: not easy to do (Use when the task is challenging but not necessarily long or very tiring)
- •Tough: strong and difficult to deal with (Use when the situation is strong or strict, but not always long-lasting)
- •Challenging: requiring effort and skill (Use when the task tests your ability but might not be exhausting)
- •Laborious: needing a lot of work and effort (Use when emphasizing long, slow, and tiring work)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no clear prefix or suffix; root from Latin)
- •Etymology: From Latin "arduus," meaning "steep, difficult, high," related to climbing or hard work
- •Historical development: Originally used to describe steep or difficult places, then extended to mean any hard effort or work
- •Modern usage: Used to describe tasks, journeys, or efforts that are very difficult and require much effort and time
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be too arduous to finish? How do people decide when to stop or keep going?
•How does facing an arduous task change the way you feel about success or achievement?
Fill in the blanks
1.The journey was arduous because the path was steep and the weather was ___.
2.She found the project arduous since it required constant ___ and focus.
3.Unlike easy tasks, arduous work often takes ___ and strong will to complete.
4.When a task is arduous, people usually feel ___ but also proud after finishing.
5.The team had to work ___ hours to complete the arduous assignment on time.
6.An arduous challenge is different from a simple one because it needs ___ effort over time.
7.After the arduous climb, the hikers rested, knowing they had overcome a ___ test.