What does difficultly mean?
"Difficultly" is an adverb meaning "with difficulty" — that is, in a way that requires effort, struggle, or the overcoming of obstacles. It is formed by adding the adverbial suffix "-ly" to the adjective "difficult," which itself derives from Latin roots meaning "not easy." In practice the word is comparatively rare: English speakers far more often express the same idea with the phrase "with difficulty," as in "she spoke with difficulty." When "difficultly" does appear, it tends to occur in formal or literary writing, often describing physical actions such as breathing, walking, or moving under strain, or figurative ones like negotiating or proceeding through hard circumstances. Its closest confusable is "diffidently," which instead conveys shyness or lack of confidence — a reminder that similar-looking adverbs can carry entirely different meanings. Though unglamorous, "difficultly" remains a legitimate, well-established word with a history stretching back several centuries.
adverbIn a manner that involves difficulty; with effort, struggle, or hardship.
- With difficulty; in a manner marked by effort, strain, or obstacles.
"She breathed difficultly after climbing the steep stairs."
"The old man walked difficultly up the icy path, gripping the railing for support."
"Negotiators proceeded difficultly through the final round of talks, with neither side willing to concede."
Despite being over 400 years old, "difficultly" is so rarely used that many style guides suggest simply writing "with difficulty" instead.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of difficultly
Difficultly is formed from the adjective "difficult" plus the adverbial suffix "-ly." The adjective comes from Latin difficilis, meaning "hard to do, not easy," a compound of dis- (expressing negation or opposition) and facilis ("easy to do"), from facere, "to do or make." The word entered English via Old French difficile or directly from Latin, and the adverb difficultly has been attested since at least the early modern period. It shares its ultimate root with words such as "facility," "facilitate," and "faculty," all tracing back to the Latin verb facere.
Related word forms
How difficultly is actually used
Register is formal to neutral; the adverb is relatively uncommon and can sound stilted in modern prose, where the phrase "with difficulty" is often preferred. It is not considered incorrect, but writers should be aware it may read as awkward.
Easily confused with difficultly
"Diffidently" means shyly or lacking in self-confidence, whereas "difficultly" means with difficulty or hardship.