abstruse
/əbˈstrus/The opposite of straightforward — so complex or obscure that very few people understand it.
Example: His abstruse explanations left the whole room confused.
C225 words · Proficient
Describing Qualities vocabulary — C2
Vocabulary for judging how difficult, skilled or morally sound something is — abstruse, herculean, peerless and unconscionable — grading a task from facile to insurmountable, and work from shoddy to consummate.
25 questions
Words in this set
25onerous
/ˈoʊnərəs/The formal word for a task that takes heavy, sustained effort, used about a duty or responsibility.
Example:
Filing quarterly taxes is an onerous task for a small business owner.
insurmountable
/ˌɪnsərˈmaʊntəbəl/The opposite of manageable — a problem or obstacle too great to ever be overcome.
Example:
The debt seemed insurmountable until she finally paid it off last year.
gruelling
Another word for exhausting — physically punishing effort that goes on and on without a break.
Example:
The marathon runners faced a gruelling final five miles uphill.
byzantine
/ˈbɪzənˌtaɪn/The opposite of simple — needlessly complicated, especially in an official or bureaucratic system.
Example:
Getting a visa involved a byzantine process of forms and approvals.
facile
/ˈfæsəl/Another word for easy — used critically about an argument or solution that's too simple to be convincing.
Example:
His facile explanation ignored all the real complexity of the issue.
herculean
/hərˈkjuliən/Another word for gruelling — used about a task that needs almost superhuman strength or effort.
Example:
Cleaning up after the flood was a herculean task.
elementary
/ˌɛləˈmɛntri/Another word for basic — so simple it needs almost no explanation.
Example:
For an expert, the puzzle was elementary.
insuperable
Another word for insurmountable — used about an obstacle so great it seems impossible to overcome.
Example:
The lack of funding proved an insuperable problem.
impenetrable
/ˌɪmˈpɛnətrəbəl/Another word for byzantine — a system or a text so complicated that almost nobody can understand it.
Example:
The tax code is famously impenetrable.
shoddy
/ˈʃɑdi/The opposite of well-made — badly and carelessly made.
Example:
The furniture fell apart because it was so shoddy.
egregious
/ɪˈɡridʒəs/The opposite of admirable — shockingly bad and hard to excuse.
Example:
The report contained several egregious errors.
slapdash
/ˈslæpˌdæʃ/The opposite of meticulous — done carelessly, with no attention to detail.
Example:
The repair job looked slapdash and started leaking again.
insufferable
/ˌɪnˈsʌfərəbəl/The opposite of pleasant to be around — so unpleasant it's hard to tolerate.
Example:
He gets insufferable whenever he wins at anything.
ostentatious
/ˌɑstənˈteɪʃəs/The opposite of unassuming — deliberately showy, meant to impress others.
Example:
Their wedding was an ostentatious affair with fireworks and a live orchestra.
peerless
/ˈpɪrlɪs/Another word for unrivalled — so good that nothing else compares.
Example:
Her skill on the violin is peerless.
abhorrent
/æbˈhɔrənt/Another word for repugnant — causing intense moral disgust.
Example:
Slavery is rightly seen as abhorrent today.
unimpeachable
/ˌʌnɪmˈpitʃəbəl/Another word for trustworthy — used about someone whose honesty cannot be doubted or criticised.
Example:
Her reputation for honesty is completely unimpeachable.
unconscionable
/ənˈkɑnʃənəbəl/Another word for unacceptable — used about behaviour that's shockingly wrong by any moral standard.
Example:
Charging that much for basic medicine is unconscionable.
consummate
/ˈkɑnsəmət/Another word for skilled — performing a task with complete, polished expertise.
Example:
She is a consummate professional in every meeting.
repugnant
/rɪˈpʌɡnənt/The opposite of appealing — causing such strong dislike that people find it morally offensive.
Example:
He found the whole idea of the plan morally repugnant.
excruciating
/ɪkˈskruʃiˌeɪtɪŋ/Another word for painful — so extreme that it's almost unbearable.
Example:
She felt an excruciating pain in her back.
harrowing
/ˈhɛroʊɪŋ/Another word for disturbing — an experience so extreme it's deeply distressing to think about.
Example:
Survivors described a harrowing journey across the desert.
grotesque
/ɡroʊˈtɛsk/Another word for ugly — strange and shocking in its ugliness.
Example:
The statue's grotesque face frightened the children.
sumptuous
/ˈsʌmptʃwəs/Another word for luxurious — rich, expensive and lavishly decorated.
Example:
They served a sumptuous feast at the wedding.
