Adjectives for "problem"...

[Mehrgan]

Hi there,
May I have some adjectives that collocate with the word "problem" meaning difficult or so? I've already looked it up in Oxford Collocations but didn't find adjectives having the same meaning as difficult.


Thanks a lot.

[5jj]

Thorny?

[Mehrgan]

Thorny?

Great! And how about arduous, severe, knotty, and ticklish? Can the last two be used in writing?

Cheers!

[5jj]

Great! And how about arduous, severe, knotty, and ticklish? Can the last two be used in writing?

I don't like 'arduous'; 'severe' is possible; 'ticklish' is great, - in writing too,

[Mehrgan]

Thanks. If you don't mind my question, may I possibly know why 'arduous' doesn't sound alright to you? I'd like to know what image it makes in a native's mind.


Thanks again.

[JMurray]

Mehrgan.
May I sneak in with the suggestion that although "arduous problem" does occur, "arduous" more usually has the sense of being strenuous and demanding physically (often mentally too), and to some extent prolonged. A journey, lifestyle or lengthy task are typically arduous.
To your list of problems I'll submit: tricky, vexing.

not a teacher

[Mehrgan]

Thank you both for the very useful suggestions.

Best!

[Jaskin]

hi,
Please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker;

I'd add :
complex
intractable
thorny
complicated
knotty
challenging
hard

I'm sorry if I repeated some;
cheers

[Khosro]

Some more adjectives:

big
funamental
important
insoluble
major
pressing
real

(macmillan advanced learners dictionary)