Cool MateDifficulty vs Obstacle
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Difficulty
Top 2,000 (common)B1noun
Obstacle
Top 2,000 (common)B2noun
| Difficulty | Obstacle | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈdɪfɪkəlti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈɒbstəkl//🇺🇸 //ˈɑbstəkl// |
| Meaning | How hard something is. | Something that makes it difficult to do something. |
| Example | The difficulty of the exam surprised many students. | He faced many obstacles during his journey to success. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun |
| Collocations | considerable, enormous, extreme, level, encounter, experience, face, arise, lie (in something), despite a/the difficulty, in difficulty, with difficulty, considerable, enormous, extreme, level, encounter, experience, face, arise, lie (in something), despite a/the difficulty, in difficulty, with difficulty, considerable, enormous, extreme, level, encounter, experience, face, arise, lie (in something), despite a/the difficulty, in difficulty, with difficulty | face an obstacle, overcome an obstacle, see an obstacle |
| Antonyms | easy, simple, effortless | advantage, help, facilitator |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'difficult' (adjective) vs. 'difficulty' (noun), Using 'difficulties' when referring to multiple challenges, Overgeneralizing to describe feelings instead of tasks | Confusing with 'obstacle course' which is a specific kind of challenge., Using 'obstacles' when discussing non-physical challenges like fears or emotions., Mixing it up with 'obstruction', which often has legal connotations. |
| Usage notes | Often used to describe challenges in tasks, tests, or activities. Suitable in both casual and academic contexts. Avoid using in overly informal situations. | Used in contexts where something hinders progress or achievement. Typically neutral; avoid in overly casual contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Difficulty vs Obstacle
What's the difference between Difficulty and Obstacle?
Difficulty: How hard something is. Obstacle: Something that makes it difficult to do something.
Which is more advanced: Difficulty and Obstacle?
Obstacle is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Are Difficulty and Obstacle the same CEFR level?
Difficulty: B1, Obstacle: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Difficulty and Obstacle?
Difficulty: noun, Obstacle: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Difficulty: The difficulty of the exam surprised many students. Obstacle: He faced many obstacles during his journey to success.
Can I use Difficulty and Obstacle interchangeably?
Not always. Difficulty and Obstacle are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.