Difficult Crossword Clue

We have the 4-letter answer for Difficult crossword clue, last seen in the USA Today Crossword September 8, 2026 puzzle. Sometimes we all need some help finding the answer!

Difficult Crossword Answer

↓12.

Find more clues, hints, and info below.

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Find more clues, hints, and info below.

TOUGH

(5 letters)

TAXING

(6 letters)

TRYING

(6 letters)

UPHILL

(6 letters)

Helpful Hints

(adjective)
1. (of light) transmitted directly from a pointed light source
2. unfortunate or hard to bear
(adverb)
1. with firmness
2. slowly and with difficulty

Hint 2: Clue Definition

DIFFICULT (adjective)
1. hard to control
2. not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

Hint 3: Other Answers Used in the Past

TOUGH
(5 letters)
TAXING
(6 letters)
TRYING
(6 letters)
UPHILL
(6 letters)

More USA Today Crossword (12/17/2025) Answers

Across

1. Wednesday Addams' cousin

4. 'Fancy' singer McEntire

8. Religious belief

13. Spotted

14. Dohas country

15. "Super Graphic ___ Modern Girl" (Chappell Roan song)

16. Poke bowl tuna

17. Parent's brother

18. Soda bottle size

19. What's never free of charge

20. ___ out (barely got)

21. Totally crushed it

22. "My ___ apologies!"

24. Person in charge

25. Habit wearer

26. Swindle

28. Kit ___ bar

31. Underground lava

33. Shrek or Fiona

34. Prefix for "tope" or "pod"

35. Related to birds

36. “___ a date!”

37. Prenatal test for short

39. ___ and yang

40. Scruff of the neck

42. ___ Thee Stallion

43. Poetic tribute

44. Cause for some food recalls

46. Theater chain with a Nicole Kidman ad campaign

47. Founded (Abbr.)

48. Places with line leaders

52. Artificial waterways

55. Powerful wind

56. Feathery accessory

57. Anxious feeling

58. Shinbone

59. Tattletale

60. Sega hedgehog

61. Harmonize

62. "SNL" alum Gasteyer

63. Banded gemstone

64. Have a chat

65. Nine-digit ID

All Answers

Down

1. To reiterate …

2. Largest alpine lake in North America

3. Like most commercial airplanes

4. Belt colors might signify these in some martial arts

5. ". . . and so on and so forth," for short

6. Like worn tires

7. “My hands ___ tied”

8. "Let's go as fast as possible!"

9. Pen name, for example

10. Teensy

11. Elm or oak

14. Plant said to be named after an English monarch who loved fine needlework

21. Fly sky-high

23. Big cat

24. Pleads

27. Bellhop's workplace

28. Hooded snakes that primarily eat other snakes

29. Continent home to 28-Down

30. Kim Possible e.g.

31. Sriracha ___ (spicy, creamy condiment)

32. Passionate

36. Bygone Apple music device

38. Office reminder

41. There are five in "King Lear"

45. "The House of the Spirits" author Allende

47. Wipe out

49. Sound of touching champagne flutes

50. Financing options

51. Another name for Lucifer

52. ___ Amor (alternative villa in "Love Island")

53. Extremely eager

54. Singer Simone

55. ___ monster (large lizard)

58. Hashtag for an old pic

All Answers