Taskmaster's cry

• " . . . the ___ they fall"
• More trying
• Less giving
• Not so easy
• More puzzling, as a crossword
• Taking more time, probably, as a test
• More difficult

The Collaborative International Dictionary Word definitions in The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hard \Hard\ (h[aum]rd), a. [Compar. Harder (-[~e]r); superl. Hardest .] [OE. hard, heard, AS. heard; akin to OS. & D. hard, G. hart, OHG. herti, harti, Icel. har[eth]r, Dan. haard, Sw. h[*a]rd, Goth. hardus, Gr. kraty`s strong, ka`rtos, kra`tos, strength, ...

WordNet Word definitions in WordNet
adj. not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure; "a difficult task"; "nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access"; "difficult times"; "a difficult child"; "found himself in a difficult situation"; ...