(a.) Wrought with labor; requiring labor; hence, tedious; wearisome.

Herculean abstruse arduous assiduous backbreaking brutal burdensome complex critical crushing delicate demanding difficile difficult diligent effortful elaborate exacting forced formidable grueling hairy hard hard-earned hard-fought heavy hefty industrious intricate jawbreaking killing knotted knotty labored laborious mean no picnic not easy onerous oppressive painful painstaking punishing rigorous rough rugged sedulous set with thorns severe spiny steep strained strenuous thorny thorough thoroughgoing ticklish toilsome tough tricky troublesome uphill wearisome wicked