arduous

Adjective
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Arduous describes a task, journey, or effort that is very difficult, demanding, and tiring because it requires sustained strength or perseverance.

Detailed Definition
Arduous describes something that is physically or mentally difficult and demanding. In poetry, it often adds a sense of strain, endurance, or labor before rest or release.
Example
Example in poetry:
The arduous climb teaches the lungs the cost of altitude; “Thou, and thine arduous days,” addresses hardship with formal gravity; An arduous journey can be physical, emotional, or political; Her arduous healing unfolds one small walk at a time
Additional Notes
In the line "Thou, and thine arduous days," the adjective is less common in everyday speech than simpler words like hard or difficult.; Found in the poem, To a Traveller by Lionel Johnson
Also Known As
challenging strenuous taxing
Skip to main content