Arduous Definition – Meaning And Usage In A Sentence

Whenever you get to know much about constructing correct sentences, grammar, syntax, and subject-verb agreement are some of the things you have to learn. That means the knowledge of words you learn in grammar is very crucial in making sentences. For instance, understanding the arduous definition and meaning allows you to use this word in your speech or writing correctly.

A great way of defining the word arduous is something complicated, taxing, or demanding to accomplish. For example, if you’re tasked with cleaning a car abandoned for years, detailing might take long, making the job arduous. Use the words tiring, exhausting, laborious, or strenuous to mean arduous.

Words such as arduous seem complex when read for the first time. It’s also possible that some reading this article have never come across this word. Worry no more because we’ll cover the arduous definition, meaning, and usage; we will also have many other sections to ensure you make good use of the word.

What is the Definition of Arduous?

The term arduous usually refers to “responsibility or a job that is hard to accomplish” or “a task that requires a great deal of effort.” You may also define the word as something characterized by great energy enough to exhaust someone. 

For instance, pushing a truck up a hill is an arduous activity. The best way to describe this word is an action that will be so hard that it frustrates you whenever you do it. You can also use the word arduous when telling someone to engage in an activity that will test the uttermost powers of skill.

Here are example sentences:

• I have been working on this arduous project for the last three days, and I’m not halfway done.
• Come to think of it, I never knew how arduous the process of making a dictionary is until I joined a team working on one.
• Our favorite team has shown arduous efforts by moving to the sixteenth place to avoid relegation.

What Does Arduous Mean in Hiking?

Arduous also means going up or climbing a steep mountain or hill with great effort. This is a common term whenever people go for hiking or adventures that require a lot of physical body movements like walking and climbing. Other words used as synonyms of arduous are hard, grueling, heavy, or laborious.

The word arduous was first used as an English word describing a steep climb. At that time, the word illustrated the great effort outdoor people put into when climbing mountains. This definition is still in use today.

Here are some example sentences:

• Few people have journeyed up the treacherous and arduous Mount Everest and reached the peak.
• It’s said that many people go down the arduous valley to meet the famous Buddhist healer that lives there.
• The journey to these local mountains is long and arduous; I don’t think your car will make it in one piece.

What is the Meaning of Arduous?

The word arduous also means something that demands intense labor or strain. It also refers to a task that is physically demanding to complete. Note that what seems demanding to one person might be easy to another. Provided it is laboring to you, the word arduous applies. 

Contrary to other definitions of the word where arduous refers to a mentally demanding task, this definition means a job or responsibility that is physically difficult to perform. It can be tasks like walking, playing, dancing, or other physical work.

Here are some more examples:

• We must prepare adequately for the journey ahead; it is long, arduous, and plagued with many obstacles.
• It has been a tiring and arduous recovery process for Klay Thompson, but it was worth it in the end.
• The vehicle we were in broke down at the bottom of the mountain; we had an arduous way up on foot.

Is The Word Arduous Positive or Negative? 

You must pay close attention to a word’s definition to determine whether it has a positive or negative intonation. Arduous means a task that is strenuous both physically and mentally. Since the term describes different activities, it can either be positive or negative; it is applicable in both cases depending on the context at hand.

Is Arduous the Same as Tedious?

Tedious refers to a monotonous or time-consuming activity that might wear the individual doing it. While an arduous activity will have the same effect on the person doing the task, the level of exhaustion will not be the same. An individual performing a tedious job will not be as tired as another performing an arduous task. Tedious applies in extreme cases of tiredness and exhaustion. Note that these two words are still used as synonyms but in specific contexts.

Does Hard and Arduous Mean One Thing?

Both these words describe performing challenging work. However, “hard” primarily refers to physical tasks, whereas arduous refers to physical and mental tasks. Additionally, arduous refers to much more complex work than “hard.”

Can You Use the Word Arduous to Describe a Person?

The word arduous describes how complicated a particular task is. However, it cannot be used to describe someone’s character. Nevertheless, the word is suitable for describing abstract things such as someone’s character or reputation.

How to Use Arduous in a Sentence

The word arduous is an adjective; it describes the noun next to it. You may use the word as an adverb or a noun. These words take different forms and apply differently, as we shall see.

When Arduous Becomes a Noun

The word arduous changes into arduity, arduousness, or arduousnesses when used as a noun. Arduity refers to the state of something being arduous, and arduousness is the quality of being arduous.

Go through these sentences to understand further:

• The workers’ pay depends on the hours spent at the mine and the arduousness of the tasks they complete.
• The arduousness of the race circuit has resulted in many cars breaking down or drivers forfeiting the race altogether.

When Arduous Becomes an Adjective

Do you know that arduous changes to “arduously” when you use it as an adjective in sentences? The new word describes how something happens.

Here are a few sentence examples:

• The chairman destroyed the club’s reputation, built arduously over the last decade.
• Any athlete will tell you that success in any field requires them to train arduously for many hours and maintain a high level of discipline.

10 Examples of Arduous in a Sentence

Have a look at the following ten sentences to have a better understanding of the word arduous. Let these sentences inspire you, and you will have an easy time creating your sentences.

1. The presidential candidate has promised to steer the country out of its arduous time; this will usher in a period of prosperity.
2. The Chicago Bulls have endured arduous times and have transformed their team into a championship contender.
3. The locals have complained about the difficulty of accessing medical services because of the road’s arduous terrain.
4. Out of the three vehicles, it was Jeremy’s Toyota V8 that was successful in driving through the cold, wet arduous path.
5. I cannot believe that his racist comments have tarnished his spotless reputation, which he built arduously.
6. My uncle said very few would succeed in climbing the arduous route up the hill and into the Forbidden City.
7. The new board of directors promised to turn the country around; however, we all know it is an arduous task.
8. It should concern you that going up this arduous mountain after an earthquake might be extremely dangerous.
9. The small plane landed safely at the landing strip, but the pilot commented that the trip was arduous.
10. I heard that George and Sheila were going through an arduous period in their relationship and were considering splitting up.

How Do You Spell Arduous?

The word Arduous is spelled as A.R.D.U.O.U.S. 

You may also spell it as \ ˈär-jə-wəs, -dyu̇-, -jü-əs \ according to the International Phonetic Alphabet.

How Do You Pronounce Arduous?

The term arduous is pronounced as [aar].[joo].[uhs].

If you keenly look at this word, you will realize that the spelling is different from how it’s pronounced. The best way to understand fully is by listening to the correct audio of the word and then doing some practice.

Arduous Synonyms

• Grueling
• Laborious
• Painful
• Rigorous
• Backbreaking
• Burdensome
• Exhausting

Arduous Antonyms

• Effortless
• Facile
• Easy
• Helpful
• Mild
• Trivial

How Many Syllables Are In Arduous?

“Arduous is a seven-letter word with three syllables; ar.du.ous.

History & Etymology of Arduous

As previously mentioned, the word arduous started by describing a person’s challenging climb on a mountain. The term also traced its roots back to the 16th century. Its Latin version arduus describes something hard to accomplish. It was also used to illustrate a steep climbing location, both literally and figuratively.

When Was Arduous First Used?

Records say that 1549 is the first recorded use of the word arduous.

Conclusion

Sentences that paint a perfect representation follow all the grammar rules. Not knowing what certain words mean will make your sentences senseless. Fortunately, this will not be the case whenever you use the word arduous in the future because you already know the arduous definition, meaning, and usage. Remember that practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to learning how to use new words.