UPHILL Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

uphill 1 of 2

adjective

ˈəp-ˌhil

Definition of uphill

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort an uphill battle to eradicate poverty in an area of the state that has never known anything else

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

uphill

2 of 2

noun

ˈəp-ˌhil

as in hill

an upward slope no matter where you go bicycle touring, the uphills always seem to outnumber the downhills

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of uphill

Adjective

The vice president also blasted Nixon, who is in an uphill race to defeat Moody, for supporting defunding the police and abolishing prisons. — Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026 Argentine President Javier Milei, who in 2023 ran an outsider campaign against economic mismanagement, faces an uphill 2027 reelection bid as Argentines struggle with day-to-day economic challenges despite the country’s macroeconomic improvements. — Dan Restrepo, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026

Noun

But too often, getting change into a medical school curriculum is like pushing a stone uphill. — Dr. Marschall Runge, Forbes.com, 1 May 2026 The moment that will likely endure from Klæbo’s perfect Olympics happened on a brutal uphill during the sprint. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for uphill

Recent Examples of Synonyms for uphill

Adjective

The problem, Snegovaya said, is that achieving military autonomy for Europe and Ukraine is extremely difficult in the short term, and Europe has been slow to develop the necessary capabilities.

— Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2026
Past changes have pushed the glacier into a retreat that may be difficult to reverse, while new modeling suggests scientists may have underestimated how warm seawater reaches beneath it.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of difficult

Noun

The entertaining spaces, including the adjoining living and dining rooms, are framed by large windows that look out on the rolling hills.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
The area is sparsely populated with private estates set atop hills or within canyons, making firefighting access difficult.

— Tom Tapp, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of hill

Adjective

As Hispanic Heritage Month continues, one musician at Philadelphia's Curtis Institute of Music is challenging expectations about classical music and the harp.

— Madeleine Wright, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Naomi Ackie, who plays the scientist charged with Hagen’s experimental procedure, praised how her co-star shouldered what was a very challenging role.

— Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of challenging

Noun

Police did not disclose the name of the roller coaster, but witnesses described seeing the man fall from Goliath, and aerial footage reviewed by CNN showed Goliath riders stopped at a steep incline before being evacuated down a high stairway.

— Karina Tsui, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2026
Lemmo With this kind of kit, the Lemmo 3 should be up to the task of tackling steep inclines and all manner of rough terrain.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of incline

Adjective

Celebrity hairstylist Brian Magallones considers this the perfect balance between a not-too-fussy and not-too-structured chignon, a style that sounds tough to style without a professional team but is actually quite easy to master at-home.

— Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Coming off that dominant performance against the Yankees, Rasmussen went six-plus tough innings.

— Rob Maaddi, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of tough

Adjective

Rejecing the marketing formula Brand building has gotten harder as marketing chiefs face growing pressure to prove their value.

— Sam Birchall, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Trump just didn’t understand—and didn’t care—that any chief’s most important duty is to tell the president hard truths.

— Chris Whipple, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hard

Adjective

Finally, Horrigan noted that inbound freight deserves the same rigorous management as outbound, stressing that procurement teams need visibility into the freight component of supplier pricing.

— Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2026
The whole piece is about the free and rigorous interplay of line.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of rigorous

Browse Nearby Words

upheld

uphill

uphills

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Style

“Uphill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/uphill. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of uphill

adjective

noun

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