Ask Difference

Difficulty vs. Obstacle — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Published on October 7, 2023
Difficulty refers to the state or condition of being hard to accomplish, understand, or deal with, while obstacle denotes a thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.

Difference Between Difficulty and Obstacle

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Key Differences

In essence, while both difficulty and obstacle represent challenges, they emphasize different facets of challenge: difficulty is about the inherent hardness or complexity, and obstacle is about external barriers that block the way to progress.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
Difficulty and obstacle are terms often used to describe challenges, but they denote different aspects of challenge. Difficulty primarily refers to the level of challenge presented by a task, situation, or goal, implying complications, hardships, or effort required to overcome it. An obstacle, however, refers more to a specific barrier, impediment, or hindrance that stands in the way of achieving a goal or completing a task, presenting a tangible or intangible blockage.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
For instance, in learning a new skill, the difficulty might be the complexity of the skill itself, the learning curve, or the effort needed to master it. An obstacle in this context could be a lack of resources, such as time or money, or external interruptions and distractions, which hinder the learning process. Thus, difficulty is more about the inherent challenge, while obstacle is about external barriers to overcoming that challenge.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
The concept of difficulty often relates to the inherent complexities or hardships of a task or situation. It may refer to anything that requires a significant amount of effort, skill, or time to accomplish, understand, or endure. On the other hand, an obstacle is usually an external element that obstructs progress, something that must be navigated around, removed, or overcome to proceed.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
While difficulty can be intrinsic to the task, goal, or situation at hand, requiring perseverance and problem-solving to overcome, obstacles often require strategic planning, resourcefulness, and action to navigate or remove. A task with high difficulty will necessitate adept skills and considerable effort, whereas facing an obstacle might require finding alternative paths, solutions, or acquiring additional resources.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023
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Comparison Chart

Definition

The state or condition of being hard to accomplish, understand, or deal with.
A thing that blocks one's way or prevents or hinders progress.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Nature

Intrinsic to the task, relating to complexities or hardships.
Usually an external element, acting as a barrier or impediment.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Type of Challenge

Represents the level of challenge, requiring effort, skill, or time to overcome.
Represents a specific barrier that needs to be navigated around, removed, or overcome.
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Oct 07, 2023

Solution Approach

Requires perseverance, problem-solving, and possibly acquiring new skills.
Requires strategic planning, resourcefulness, and possibly finding alternative paths.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Contextual Application

Applied to describe the inherent challenges in tasks, goals, or situations.
Applied to describe tangible or intangible barriers obstructing progress.
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Oct 07, 2023
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Definitions

Difficulty

Difficulty can denote the effort needed to understand a concept or situation.
He had difficulty grasping the advanced mathematical concepts.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Obstacle implies a circumstance or factor causing difficulties in achieving a goal.
His lack of experience was seen as an obstacle to his employment.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Difficulty may represent a challenging or unfavorable condition or situation.
The team faced considerable difficulty due to the harsh weather conditions.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Obstacle can denote a barrier or blockage that needs to be overcome.
Lack of funding is a major obstacle to scientific research.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Difficulty can also mean the state of being hard to please or satisfy.
The critic's difficulty with the film was its lack of originality.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Obstacle can represent a tangible or intangible hindrance in a path or course.
The new regulation created an unexpected obstacle for the emerging industry.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

The condition or quality of being difficult
The difficulty of a task.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Obstacle refers to something that impedes or hinders progress.
The fallen tree was a significant obstacle for motorists.
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Difficulty

Something not easily done, accomplished, comprehended, or solved
We face a difficulty that requires unconventional thinking.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Obstacle can also mean a situation or condition obstructing advancement or success.
The steep learning curve is often an obstacle for new users.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Often difficulties A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs
Lost his job and found himself in difficulties.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Something that stands in the way of or holds up progress
The road crew removed the obstacle of the fallen tree limb. We had to overcome many obstacles to put on this show.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

A disagreement or dispute
A company trying to settle difficulties with labor.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Something that impedes, stands in the way of, or holds up progress, either physically or figuratively
A big obstacle to understanding the manual was that it had been poorly translated from the Japanese.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

That which stands in the way, or opposes; anything that hinders progress; a hindrance; an obstruction, physical or moral.
If all obstacles were cut away.And that my path were even to the crown.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

An obstacle that hinders achievement of a goal.
We faced a difficulty in trying to book a flight so late.
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

Something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted;
Lack of immagination is an obstacle to one's advancement
The poverty of a district is an obstacle to good education
The filibuster was a major obstruction to the success of their plan
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Physical danger from the environment, especially with risk of drowning
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Sep 29, 2023

Obstacle

An obstruction that stands in the way (and must be removed or surmounted or circumvented)
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

An objection.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

That which cannot be easily understood or believed.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

An awkward situation or quarrel.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

The state of being difficult, or hard to do; hardness; arduousness; - opposed to easiness or facility; as, the difficulty of a task or enterprise; a work of difficulty.
Not being able to promote them [the interests of life] on account of the difficulty of the region.
Tayyaba Rehman
Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Something difficult; a thing hard to do or to understand; that which occasions labor or perplexity, and requires skill and perseverance to overcome, solve, or achieve; a hard enterprise; an obstacle; an impediment; as, the difficulties of a science; difficulties in theology.
They lie under some difficulties by reason of the emperor's displeasure.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

A controversy; a falling out; a disagreement; an objection; a cavil.
Measures for terminating all local difficulties.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Embarrassment of affairs, especially financial affairs; - usually in the plural; as, to be in difficulties.
In days of difficulty and pressure.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

An effort that is inconvenient;
I went to a lot of trouble
He won without any trouble
Had difficulty walking
Finished the test only with great difficulty
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

A factor causing trouble in achieving a positive result or tending to produce a negative result;
Serious difficulties were encountered in obtaining a pure reagent
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

A condition or state of affairs almost beyond one's ability to deal with and requiring great effort to bear or overcome;
Grappling with financial difficulties
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

The quality of being difficult;
They agreed about the difficulty of the climb
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Difficulty refers to the complexity or hardship in accomplishing a task.
The difficulty of the puzzle required considerable time and concentration.
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Sep 29, 2023

Difficulty

Difficulty implies a struggle or challenge in enduring or overcoming situations.
She encountered difficulty in maintaining a work-life balance.
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Sep 29, 2023

FAQs

Can an obstacle be intangible?

Yes, an obstacle can be intangible, such as a lack of knowledge, motivation, or a limiting belief, hindering progress.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

What is an obstacle?

An obstacle is something that impedes or hinders progress, acting as a barrier or blockage that needs to be overcome.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Can difficulty be inherent to a task or goal?

Yes, difficulty can be intrinsic to a task or goal, representing the inherent complexities or hardships involved.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

What does difficulty refer to?

Difficulty refers to the state or condition of being hard to accomplish, understand, or deal with due to complexity or hardship.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Does overcoming difficulty require effort and perseverance?

Yes, overcoming difficulty typically requires effort, perseverance, and often the acquisition of new skills or knowledge.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Does overcoming an obstacle require strategic planning?

Often, yes. Overcoming an obstacle usually requires strategic planning, resourcefulness, and sometimes finding alternative paths or solutions.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Is difficulty always negative?

Not necessarily. While difficulty often implies challenges, overcoming difficulty can lead to growth, learning, and a sense of accomplishment.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Can an obstacle be a specific barrier?

Yes, an obstacle often refers to a specific barrier, either tangible or intangible, that obstructs progress.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Can overcoming obstacles lead to personal growth?

Absolutely. Overcoming obstacles can foster resilience, adaptability, and problem-solving skills, contributing to personal growth and development.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Can difficulty relate to the level of challenge presented by a task?

Absolutely. Difficulty primarily denotes the level of challenge, indicating the amount of effort, skill, or time required to overcome it.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Is high difficulty associated with complex tasks?

Typically, yes. High difficulty is often associated with tasks that are complex, requiring more effort, skill, and understanding to accomplish.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Can an obstacle be overcome by acquiring additional resources?

Yes, acquiring additional resources can often help in overcoming obstacles, providing the means to navigate, remove, or bypass the hindrance.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Can difficulty be subjective?

Yes, what is considered difficulty can vary from person to person, depending on individual skills, knowledge, perceptions, and experiences.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Can both difficulty and obstacle represent forms of challenge?

Yes, both difficulty and obstacle represent different forms of challenge; difficulty denotes the level of challenge, while obstacle represents a specific hindrance or barrier to progress.
Tayyaba Rehman
Oct 07, 2023

Is an obstacle always external?

While obstacles are often external, they can also be internal, such as mental barriers, fears, or self-doubt, hindering progress.
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Oct 07, 2023

Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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