adj. characterized by toilsome effort to the point of exhaustion; especially physical effort; "worked their arduous way up the mining valley"; "a grueling campaign"; "hard labor"; "heavy work"; "heavy going"; "spent many laborious hours on the project"; "set a punishing pace"

adj. requiring full use of your abilities or resources; "ambitious schedule"; "performed the most challenging task without a mistake"

adj. not easily borne; wearing; "the burdensome task of preparing the income tax return"; "my duties weren't onerous; I only had to greet the guests"; "a taxing schedule"

adj. not forbearing; ruthless; "an unsparing critic"

adj. not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure; "a difficult task"; "nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access"; "difficult times"; "a difficult child"; "found himself in a difficult situation"; "why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?"

adj. impressively difficult; "a tall order"

adj. so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness; "a boring evening with uninteresting people"; "the deadening effect of some routine tasks"; "a dull play"; "his competent but dull performance"; "a ho-hum speaker who couldn't capture their attention"; "what an irksome task the writing of long letters is"- Edmund Burke; "tedious days on the train"; "the tiresome chirping of a cricket"- Mark Twain; "other people's dreams are dreadfully wearisome"

adj. full of hardship or trials; "the rocky road to success"; "they were having a rough time"

adj. hard to manage; inclined to make trouble: "a difficult child"

adj. causing irritation or annoyance; "tapping an annoying rhythm on his glass with his fork"; "aircraft noise is particularly bothersome near the airport"; "found it galling to have to ask permission"; "an irritating delay"; "nettlesome paperwork"; "a pesky mosquito"; "swarms of pestering gnats"; "a plaguey newfangled safety catch"; "a teasing and persistent thought annoyed him"; "a vexatious child"; "it is vexing to have to admit you are wrong"

adj. causing vexation or worry: "trying times"; "serious problems"

adj. disagreeable to the senses; "the harsh cry of a blue jay"; "harsh cognac"; "the harsh white light makes you screw up your eyes"; "harsh irritating smoke filled the hallway"

adj. (of weapons or instruments) causing suffering and pain; "brutal instruments of torture"; "cruel weapons of war"

adj. severely simple; "a stark interior"

adj. unsparing and uncompromising in discipline or judgment; "a parent severe to the pitch of hostility"- H.G.Wells; "a hefty six-footer with a rather severe mien"; "a strict disciplinarian"; "a Spartan upbringing"

adj. requiring much effort and trouble; "the mountain climb was long, steep, and difficult"

adj. producing exhaustion; "an exhausting march"; "the visit was especially wearing"

adj. requiring or showing effort; "heavy breathing"; "the subject made for labored reading"

adj. (of movement) slow and laborious; "leaden steps"

adj. requiring or apparently requiring no effort; "the swallows glided in an effortless way through the busy air"