C2 Level Wordlist - Difficulty and Challenge

Here you will learn all the essential words for talking about Difficulty and Challenge, collected specifically for level C2 learners.

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C2 Level Wordlist
knotty [adjective]

full of complications or difficulties

Ex: The legal case became increasingly knotty as new evidence and conflicting testimonies emerged .
byzantine [adjective]

so detailed and complex that understanding becomes difficult

Ex: The Byzantine plot of the novel was difficult to follow , with numerous twists and turns .
inscrutable [adjective]

extremely difficult or seemingly impossible to understand or interpret due to its unclear intent or cause

Ex: Researchers struggled for decades to decipher the inscrutable code behind the encrypted enemy communications .
muddled [adjective]

lacking clarity or coherence

Ex: The muddled conversation , filled with interruptions and conflicting opinions , hindered progress in the team meeting .
unfathomable [adjective]

impossible to comprehend

Ex: The complexity of quantum physics often results in concepts that are unfathomable to those without a deep background in the field .
abstruse [adjective]

difficult to understand due to being complex or obscure

Ex:
enigmatic [adjective]

difficult to understand or interpret

Ex: The ancient symbols on the wall were enigmatic clues from a bygone era .
impenetrable [adjective]

extremely difficult to fully comprehend

Ex: Despite multiple attempts , she found the philosopher 's writing to be impenetrable , leaving her feeling frustrated and confused .
labyrinthine [adjective]

complicated or difficult to follow, like a maze

Ex: Her explanation of the rules was so labyrinthine that everyone was left confused .
recondite [adjective]

difficult to understand or obscure to most people due to its complexity

Ex: His recondite knowledge of medieval literature impressed only a small group of scholars .
idiot-proof [adjective]

designed to be so simple that even someone with little knowledge or skill can use it without making mistakes

Ex: The safety manual was written in plain language to make it idiot-proof , ensuring that all employees could understand it .
grueling [adjective]

extremely tiring and demanding strenuous effort and perseverance

Ex:
daunting [adjective]

intimidating, challenging, or overwhelming in a way that creates a sense of fear or unease

Ex:
Sisyphean [adjective]

relating to a task that is endless, futile, and laborious

Ex: Attempting to bring about peace in the war-torn region appeared to be a Sisyphean endeavor , with conflicts persisting despite diplomatic efforts .
Herculean [adjective]

requiring great strength, effort, or courage

Ex:
draining [adjective]

causing a significant loss of physical, emotional, or mental energy

Ex:
thorny [adjective]

causing problem or difficulty

Ex: The project encountered several thorny obstacles along the way , delaying its completion .
painstaking [adjective]

requiring a lot of effort and time

Ex: The restoration of the historic building required painstaking effort to preserve its original features .
onerous [adjective]

difficult and needing a lot of energy and effort

Ex: The task of organizing the event fell on her shoulders , and she soon realized it was more onerous than she had anticipated .
convoluted [adjective]

(of sentences, explanations, arguments, etc.) long and difficult to understand, often due to complexity or excessive detail

Ex: The writer 's convoluted sentences made the book challenging to read .
exacting [adjective]

severe, demanding, or unrelenting in requiring effort, compliance, or performance

Ex:
uphill [adjective]

challenging situation that requires considerable effort

Ex: Overcoming her fear of public speaking was an uphill challenge , but she gradually gained confidence through practice .

to successfully overcome challenges or difficulties

Ex: Businesses strategize to surmount market competition and achieve sustained growth .
esoteric [adjective]

intended for or understood by only a small, specialized group, often due to complexity

Ex: His esoteric knowledge of ancient languages fascinated the scholars in the field .
to brave [verb]

to endure a difficult or dangerous situation with courage and determination

Ex: She braved the long journey alone to find her lost dog .
cinch [noun]

an extremely easy task or something easily achieved

Ex: Assembling the new furniture according to the straightforward instructions was a cinch for the DIY enthusiast .