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10 Words to Describe a Difficult Journey

By Ali Dixon

If you want to present a challenging path a character in your book is taking, illustrate it using the following 10 words to describe a difficult journey.

Challenging or straining ; reaching or surpassing one’s endurance.

“The journey was a long and  trying  one, and by the end of it, they were all relieved to have finally reached their destination.”

“After their  trying  journey there, they took a long, well-earned rest.”

How It Adds Description

If a journey is difficult, then that can require a serious test of endurance.  Describing  the journey as a trying one can emphasize how difficult the journey was. You can use this word with some flexibility as well since a journey could be physically or emotionally trying.

Extending a significant distance or spanning a great length .

“Getting to the other side of the mountains would entail a  long , difficult journey.”

“If they wanted to reach their destination in time, they knew they would have to head out on their  long  journey as soon as possible.”

There are a lot of things that can make a journey difficult, including the length of the journey itself. Putting your character on a long journey can add even more tension to your story and make it more rewarding when your character finally reaches their destination.

Involving or imposing a burden .

“They all knew it would be a tiresome,  onerous  journey, so they made sure that they had packed all the supplies they would need.”

“She thought many times about giving up on her  onerous  journey, but she knew that what waited for her ahead would be worth all the trouble she had gone to.”

Onerous isn’t a word one sees often, so it can stand out to your readers. Seeing it can help to emphasize how much of a burden the adventure that your character is going on is to them.

4. Grueling

Punishing ; difficult to the point of exhaustion.

“After their long,  grueling  journey, they rewarded themselves with a hearty meal and a long, restful sleep.”

“Getting to the other side of the map would without a doubt be a  grueling  task, but it was one that the entire team was up for.”

Want to ensure that your readers know difficult the journey is on your character? Use the word grueling. This word can emphasize that not only is the journey hard, but it feels close to a punishment.

5. Exhausting

Extremely tiring .

“Since they had to plan for such an  exhausting  journey, they spent a long time beforehand making sure that they would have all the supplies they needed.”

“When he started on the road, he had been keen and bright-eyed, but by the end of the  exhausting  and challenging journey, all he wanted to do was rest.”

Something that is exhausting is more than just a little tiring. Calling the journey exhausting will help to describe both the physical state as well as the mental state your character is in when the journey is finally done.

Upward on an incline or hill ; against challenges.

“The  uphill  journey left them feeling nothing but tired by the end of it.”

“She knew that what she would find at the end of the road would be worth it, but the  uphill  climb was going to make things that much more challenging.”

The word uphill can be used literally to describe an inclined terrain your character must go up. You can also use it metaphorically to demonstrate that your character must face other challenges along the way to their destination.

7. Formidable

Causing feelings of apprehension or dread ; impressive of instilling feelings of wonder.

“He had no idea what he would find at the end of his  formidable  journey.”

“As she looked at the map in front of her, she considered what she would have to bring with her on such a  formidable  journey.”

If the journey that one of your characters is going on is quite daunting, then you can describe it as formidable. You can also use it in a slightly more positive sense to show that the journey inspires feelings of awe.

8. Intimidating

Causing a loss of confidence and inspiring feelings of timidity, fear, or anxiety .

“At first it had seemed like an easy adventure, but the more he thought about it, the more  intimidating  it became.”

“The map had seemed  intimidating  at the time, but now that she was well on her way, the road seemed much easier.”

If a journey looks like it’s going to be particularly long or hard, then it’s probably going to be pretty intimidating for the character going on it. This word will help describe the tension your character is experiencing.

Marked by difficult terrain ; challenging to travel through or across; not easy.

“The journey would be a  rough  one, and would require packing several days’ worth of supplies.”

“They would follow the  rough  road all the way to the end.”

The word rough can be used to describe the actual terrain that your characters are traveling across. You can also use it to describe the journey itself, as calling something rough means that it is challenging or not easy.

10. Satisfying

Rewarding ; causing feelings of contentment or pleasure by providing something needed.

“After such a difficult but  satisfying  journey, the team was rewarded with some good food and a few comfortable beds to sleep on.”

“She knew that despite all the challenges, the journey would be  satisfying , especially once she reached the hidden treasure.”

A difficult journey doesn’t have to be entirely negative! When your character finally reaches the end of their road, they’re likely to find a lot of satisfaction. Describing the relief and reward your characters have achieved through this journey will make it feel satisfying to your readers as well.

Synonyms of journey

• as in to travel
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Thesaurus Definition of journey

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• peregrination
• commutation

Thesaurus Definition of journey  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrinate
• road - trip
• knock (about)
• perambulate

Examples of journey in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'journey.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Thesaurus Entries Near journey

Cite this entry.

“Journey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/journey. Accessed 4 Sep. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on journey

Nglish: Translation of journey for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of journey for Arabic Speakers

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noun as in travel from one place to another

Strongest matches

• exploration

Strong matches

• constitutional
• peregrination
• transmigration
• vagabondage

verb as in travel

• peregrinate

Weak matches

• knock about
• take a trip

Example Sentences

If either is selected, it would not launch until 2026 at the earliest, and would take at least a few months to make the journey.

The job is a cherry on top, but the journey and the experience of being able to audition and leave your heart in the room and feel good about it, no matter what happens, that’s rare and that was amazing.

Cross-device measurement helps connect the dots of your customer’s journey and ensures you know how effective your campaigns are at driving user behavior.

You are somewhat of a new grandmother and you’ve been enjoying that journey.

Instead of having numerous articles addressing each of these particular questions, brands and publishers could consolidate this information as it is all pertinent to the same stage of the journey that the user is in.

The brokers then scout out potential “crew members” who can earn substantial discounts for working the journey.

The next day, after driving to Putney on the outskirts of London, we start the end of our journey.

The NYPD Emerald Society pipes and drums struck up a slow march and the procession began the journey to the cemetery.

We began a journey with Koenig in the first episode of Serial.

But the sunlight is threatening to fade and a three-and-a-half-hour river journey back to Kisangani looms.

With a hammer the boy knocked off some of the slats of the small box in which Squinty had made his journey.

Then summoning a smart young jemadar with whom he had talked a good deal during the journey, he asked him to read the chit.

But dismissing them from our thoughts for the time being, as we did then from our presence, let us continue our journey.

If the journey is now distasteful to her, she has but her own rashness to blame in having sought it herself.

It was past sundown when they left San Bernardino, but a full moon made the night as good as day for their journey.

Related Words

Words related to journey are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word journey . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in existence

• subsistence

noun as in revolution, track, boundary

• bound/bounds
• circulation
• circumference
• circumnavigation
• circumscription
• circumvolution
• perambulation

verb as in sail

• keep steady pace
• push off/push on
• wander about

noun as in sailing expedition

verb as in travel, visit

• pass through

Viewing 5 / 72 related words

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

77 Positive and Inspiring Journey Quotes

Embark on a journey of a lifetime with these inspiring journey quotes. Life’s a thrilling ride, filled with ups and downs.

It’s about braving the storms and cherishing time spent with loved ones.

So whether your path is spiritual, an exciting travel adventure, or just starting something new in life, let these quotes fuel your spirit for exploration and discovery.

Journey quotes to begin your path towards greatness

1. “Never give up on your dreams, no matter how painful and difficult your journey is.” – Lisa

2. “The journey is never ending. There’s always gonna be growth, improvement, adversity; you just gotta take it all in and do what’s right, continue to grow, continue to live in the moment.” – Antonio Brown

3. “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu

4. “Sometimes its more about the journey than the destination.” – Jamal Crawford

5. “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.” – Arthur Ashe

6. “Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.” – Greg Anderson

New journey quotes to inspire your success

7. “Not all those who wander are lost.” – J.R.R. Tolkien

8. “Sometimes it’s the journey that teaches you a lot about your destination.” – Drake

9. “Sometimes we make the process more complicated than we need to. We will never make a journey of a thousand miles by fretting about how long it will take or how hard it will be. We make the journey by taking each day step by step and then repeating it again and again until we reach our destination.” – Joseph B. Wirthlin

10. “Enjoy the journey and try to get better every day. And don’t lose the passion and the love for what you do.” – Nadia Comaneci

11. “Struggle teaches you a lot of things, and I am happy that I witnessed a roller coaster ride. The journey has improved me as a person and made me more matrure.” – Manoj Bajpayee

12. “Life is short and we have never too much time for gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us. Oh be swift to love, make haste to be kind.” – Henri Frederic Amiel

Life is a journey quotes

13. “Life is a journey that must be traveled no matter how bad the roads and accommodations.” – Oliver Goldsmith

14. “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost

15. “Learn to trust the journey, even when you do not understand it.” – Lolly Daskal

16. “Life is a journey that have a lot of different paths, but any path you choose, use it as your destiny.” – Unknown

17. “The beautiful journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday.” – Steve Maraboli

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18. “Life is a journey, not a destination.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

19. “Everyday you got a chance to make your journey more beautiful than yesterday.” – Nitin Namdeo

20. “Every day is a journey and the journey itself is home.” – Matsuo Basho

21. “Everybody has their own story; everything has their own journey.” – Thalia

Enjoy the journey quotes

22. “Enjoy the journey as much as the destination.” – Marshall Sylver

23. “Enjoy the journey of life and not just the endgame.” – Benedict Cumberbatch

24. “Enjoy the journey and try to get better everyday. And don’t lose the passion and the love for what you do.” – Nadia Comaneci

25. “Enjoy the journey, the destination will come.” – Verghese

26. “Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before you decide to enjoy your life.” – Joyce Meyer

27. “Dream big, stay positive, work hard, and enjoy the journey.” – Urijah Faber

28. “The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance, and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” – Oprah Winfrey

29. “Aim for the sky, but move slowly, enjoying every step along the way. It is all those little steps that make the journey complete.” – Chanda Kochar

30. “Enjoy the journey, enjoy every moment, and quit worrying about winning and losing.” – Matt Biondi

31. “Stop worrying about the potholes in the road and enjoy the journey.” – Babs Hoffman

32. “I haven’t been everywhere but its on my list.” – Susan Sontag

33. “You must remain focused on your journey to greatness.” – Les Brown

Inspirational journey quotes

34. “You can never regret anything you do in life. You kind of have to learn the lesson from whatever the experience is and take it with you on your journey forward.” – Aubrey O’Day

35. “Life is a journey. When we stop, things don’t go right.” – Pope Francis

36. “There’s no map for you to follow and take your journey. You are Lewis and Clark. You are the mapmaker.” – Phillipa Soo

37. “I’m different than most people. When I cross the finish line of a big race, I see that people are ecstatic, but I’m thinking about what I’m going to do tomorrow. It’s as if my journey is everlasting, and there is no finish line.” – David Goggins

38. “We don’t receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us.” – Marcel Proust

39. “Though the road’s been rocky it sure feels good to me.” – Bob Marley

40. “We are at our very best, and we are happiest, when we are fully engaged in work we enjoy on the journey toward the goal we’ve established for ourselves. It gives meaning to our time off and comfort to our sleep. It makes everything else in life so wonderful, so worthwhile.” – Earl Nightingale

41. “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become.” – Steve Jobs

42. “If my ship sails from sight, it doesn’t mean my journey ends, it simply means the river bends.” – Enoch Powell

Motivational journey quotes 

43. “Make voyages. Attempt them. There’s nothing else.” – Tennessee Williams

44. “Gotta take that adventure in order to understand your journey.” – Jennifer Pierre

45. “Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

46. “The beauty of my journey is that it’s always been pretty unpredictable, so stay tuned.” – Andreja Pejic

47. “The journey not the arrival matters.” – T.S. Eliot

48. “The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi

49. “The goal is to die with memories, not dreams.” – Unknown

50. “Never throughout history has a man who lived a life of ease left a name worth remembering.” – Theodore Roosevelt

51. “The harder you work from something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.” – Sudhashree Acharya

52. “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” – Pat Conroy

53. “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – ILHQ

54. “When setting out on a journey do not seek advice from someone who never left home.” – Rumi

Positive journey quotes

55. “You may only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” – Mae West

56. “Every day you got a chance to make your journey more beautiful than yesterday.” – Nitin Namdeo

57. “Stay positive. Better days are on their way.” – Unknown

58. “Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something.” – Ralph Marston

59. “You make a life out of what you have, not what you’re missing.” – Kate Morton

60. “Every sunset is an opportunity to reset. Every sunrise begins with new eyes.” – Richie Norton

61. “Life is very interesting. In the end, some of your greatest pains, become your greatest strengths.” – Drew Barrymore

62. “Your journey has molded you for your greater good, and it was exactly what it needed to be. Don’t think you’ve lost time. There is no short-cutting life. It took each and every situation you have encountered to bring you to the now. And now is right on time.” – Asha Tyson

63. “And suddenty you know…It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.” – Meister Eckhart

64. “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” – Dolly Parton

65. “Your success will be determined by your own confidence and fortitude.” – Michelle Obama

66. “Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde

67. “If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” – Wayne Dyer

Journey of life quotes

68. “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.” – Tony Robbins

69. “When you have a dream, you’ve got to grab it and never let go.” – Carol Burnett

70. “Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% how you react to it.” – Charles R. Swindoll

71. “You take your life in your own hands, and what happens? A terrible thing, no one to blame.” – Erica Jong

72. “If all difficulties were known at the outset of a long journey, most of us would never start out at all.” – Dan Rather

73. “It’s your reaction to adversity, not adversity itself that determines how your life’s story will develop.” – Dieter F. Uchtdorf

74. “Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week. See yourself getting stronger, and living a fulfilling, happier & healthier life.” – Germany Kent

75. “Ability is what you’re capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.” – Lou Holtz

76. “Our lives are the journey we take to find our true selves!” – Alyssa Gonzalez

77. “Your braver than you believe, stronger that you seem, and smarter than you think.” – A.A. Milne

Which of these journey quotes were your favorites?

We all have the potential within us to be great.

But greatness isn’t about luck. It’s a choice.

We must choose to succeed and take steps towards it.

Remember, the path to success is a journey, not a quick leap.

Let these quotes inspire you to stay focused on your goals and dreams, no matter what obstacles get in your way along the path.

Helping people and eating tacos are my jam! This blog exists to help provide tips and resources that can help you achieve your goals and live a better life. Whether you’re looking for tips on personal growth, fitness, advice on starting a side hustle, or resources for working remotely, I’ve got you covered.

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HARD JOURNEY Crossword clue

Crossword answers for hard journey, top answers for: hard journey, top answer for hard journey crossword clue from newspapers, hard journey crossword puzzle solutions.

We have 1 solution for the frequently searched for crossword lexicon term HARD JOURNEY. Our best crossword lexicon answer is: TREK.

For the puzzel question HARD JOURNEY we have solutions for the following word lenghts 4.

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Frequently asked questions for Hard journey:

What is the best solution to the riddle hard journey.

Solution TREK is 4 letters long. So far we haven´t got a solution of the same word length.

How many solutions do we have for the crossword puzzle HARD JOURNEY?

We have 1 solutions to the crossword puzzle HARD JOURNEY. The longest solution is TREK with 4 letters and the shortest solution is TREK with 4 letters.

How can I find the solution for the term HARD JOURNEY?

With help from our search you can look for words of a certain length. Our intelligent search sorts between the most frequent solutions and the most searched for questions. You can completely free of charge search through several million solutions to hundreds of thousands of crossword puzzle questions.

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The length of the solution word is 4 letters. Most of the solutions have 4 letters. In total we have solutions for 1 word lengths.

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difficult journey

Meanings of difficult and journey.

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(Definition of difficult and journey from the Cambridge English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

• Examples of difficult journey

Word of the Day

put something off

to decide or arrange to delay an event or activity until a later time or date

Like a bull in a china shop: talking about people who are clumsy

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• Definition of difficult
• Definition of journey
• Other collocations with journey

Example sentences difficult journey

They see their development as a long, often difficult journey .

It's been a difficult journey for me, this learning to be my own person.

The eight years in between have been a long and difficult journey .

Each day they gather virtually, to share a unique, incredibly difficult journey .

It was a difficult journey , which took 20 days or so.

Definition of 'difficult' difficult

Definition of 'journey' journey

Cobuild collocations difficult journey.

Browse alphabetically difficult journey

• difficult environment
• difficult feat
• difficult issue
• difficult journey
• difficult match
• difficult negotiation
• difficult opponent
• All ENGLISH words that begin with 'D'

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Damar Hamlin Says ‘It’s Hard to Describe’ How Much Work it Took to Make Buffalo Bills Roster (Exclusive)

Damar Hamlin is on the precipice of one of the greatest comeback stories in recent NFL history. 

On Wednesday, September 4, Hamlin, 26, was named the starting safety for the Buffalo Bills when they open the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals this weekend. 

The announcement from Bills head coach Sean McDermott comes less than two years after Hamlin collapsed on the field during a Monday Night Football game in January 2023, suffering cardiac arrest after making a tackle. 

In an exclusive interview with Us Weekly , Hamlin candidly admitted what a mountain it’s been to climb.

Related: Celebrities Who Love Football: Nick Lachey, Mark Wahlberg, Taylor Swift and More

“It’s been such a long journey and a long process,” said Hamlin, who spoke to Us via his partnership with Invisalign. “I think it’s hard to describe what it took to get myself back to this point.”

Hamlin continued, “It took me taking it one day at a time. I won’t ever lose sight of that. That’s my approach to the rest of this life journey that I’m on.”

The game — which kicks off from Buffalo’s Highmark Stadium at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, September 8 — marks Hamlin’s first time as a starter since his on-field incident last year, which forced him to spend nine days in the hospital after his heartbeat was restored on the field. 

Hamlin appeared in five games as a reserve last season after returning to the team. 

As for his expectations this season, Hamlin said the only one he has is “just continuing to grow each day.”

Hamlin is a fan of the phrase “trust the process,” which he uses not only for himself but for a Bills team that is desperate for its first Super Bowl appearance in over 30 years. 

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“I think keeping the focus internal and keeping the focus on the process is the main thing,” Hamlin said of the squad’s mindset. “Your process will take you as far as you trust it. I’m just deeply embedded in my process one day at a time. I’m committed to it.”

When Hamlin makes his entrance on Sunday — which is sure to elicit a gigantic, emotional roar from Bills Mafia — he’ll have a sparkly smile to match the moment thanks to his partnership with Invisalign. 

“I understand how the confidence you get from Invisalign aligners goes hand-in-hand with the need to perform on and off the field,” Hamlin explained. “It’s not only performance-based, but just the confidence that you get to walk in any room to just be yourself.”

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Damar Hamlin

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