The term 'difficult to deal with' can be summarized by the crossword solutions of THORNY (6 letters), HARD (4 letters), MESSY (5 letters), and HAIRY (5 letters). These words all describe a situation that is complex, difficult, and challenging. THORNY implies something that is difficult to get through or overcome, while HARD suggests something that is not easily done. MESSY implies a chaotic or disorganized situation, and HAIRY implies a situation that is complicated and full of potential problems. All of these words together suggest a situation that is difficult to manage and requires a great deal of effort to resolve.