Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com

uphill battle

ADJECTIVE
hard
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arduous complicated heavy rough serious terrible tough troublesome
WEAK
backbreaking bothersome burdensome demanding difficile distressing effortful exacting fatiguing formidable grinding hairy herculean intricate involved irksome knotty labored laborious mean merciless murder onerous operose rigorous rugged scabrous severe slavish sticky strenuous tiring toilful toilsome unsparing uphill wearing wearisome wearying
Antonyms
STRONGEST
easy facile
WEAK
flexible simple
NOUN
hardship
Synonyms
STRONGEST
adversity calamity catastrophe danger difficulty disaster discomfort fatigue grief hazard injury misery misfortune oppression peril persecution sorrow suffering torment trouble worry
STRONG
accident affliction asperity austerity case curse destitution distress drudgery grievance labor mischance need privation rigor toil travail trial tribulation vicissitude want
WEAK
Herculean task hard knocks rainy day rotten luck tough break tough luck
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advantage aid assistance benefit blessing boon calmness cheer comfort contentment delight ease favor fortune good fortune good luck happiness health help joy miracle peace pleasure prosperity relief safety security success wonder
STRONG
compliment entertainment fun mildness plenty praise
WEAK
gain good profit
NOUN
hard work
Synonyms
WEAK
backbreaking work donkeywork drudgery hard way labor long haul tough grind
NOUN
uphill struggle
Synonyms
WEAK
difficult task hard work tall order tough assignment

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Cepeda faces an uphill battle to overturn his first-round defeat.

From Barron's • Jun. 1, 2026

The former Liverpool man appeared to be facing an uphill battle to make the squad, with Tuchel preferring Chelsea's Reece James, Newcastle's Tino Livramento and Arsenal's Ben White in the position.

From BBC • May 12, 2026

It has also bet on smartglasses, but convincing consumers to buy them has been an uphill battle.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

But executive recruiters say Mason’s move to jump ship and get a simultaneous promotion to CEO—known as a “double switch”—might prove an uphill battle.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 18, 2026

It was going to be an uphill battle.

From "The Landry News" by Andrew Clements

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "uphill battle" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com