Hard, not easy (9)

I believe the answer is:

difficult

This clue is a double definition.

'hard' is the first definition.
(I know that hard can be written as difficult)

'not easy' is the second definition.
(I know this)

(Other definitions for difficult that I've seen before include "Demanding" , "Requiring much effort" , "Trying" , "Challenging" , "Hard, not easy" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times (Simplex) and The Irish Times.

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