Problem-Solving Terminology

noun a difficult task or problem

verb to confront or defy boldly

• The team faced a difficult challenge when trying to meet the project deadline.
• It's going to be a real challenge to finish this assignment on time.
• This math problem is a total challenge, dude.
• Overcoming his fear of public speaking was a real challenge for him.

verb to utilize or make use of something

preposition to rely on or use as a resource

• The author was able to draw on a wide range of sources for their research paper.
• I like to draw on my own experiences when giving advice to others.
• She always knows how to draw on her connections to get what she wants.
• As an artist, he likes to draw on his emotions for inspiration in his paintings.

noun a person or thing that is impracticable

adjective not capable of being put into practice or carried out

• The proposed plan was deemed impracticable due to budget constraints.
• It's impracticable to expect everyone to attend the meeting on such short notice.
• Trying to finish this project by tomorrow is just plain impracticable.
• Her dreams of becoming a famous singer were considered impracticable by her parents.

adjective having or showing good judgment; calm and rational

• She is known for being extremely levelheaded in high-pressure situations.
• Don't worry, Sarah will stay levelheaded and help us figure this out.
• I can always count on Jake to keep it levelheaded when things get crazy.
• His levelheaded approach to problem-solving is like a breath of fresh air in the chaos.

noun a state of perplexity or confusion

verb to cause to be at a loss as to what to say, think, or do

• The complex mathematical problem left the students in a state of nonplus.
• I was completely nonplussed by his sudden outburst.
• I was totally nonplussed when she told me she was quitting her job.
• The unexpected turn of events left me in a state of nonplus.

noun the quality of being able to be put into practice or used effectively; usefulness

adjective practical

• The design of the new building prioritizes practicality over aesthetics.
• I always choose clothes based on practicality rather than style.
• Who needs fancy gadgets when you can just go for practicality?
• In the realm of emotions, practicality often takes a backseat to passion.

adjective feeling or showing confusion because something is difficult to understand or solve

• The scientist was puzzled by the unexpected results of the experiment.
• I'm really puzzled about why she didn't show up to the party.
• I was totally puzzled by his strange behavior last night.
• The complex riddle left me puzzled for hours.

adjective causing confusion or perplexity; difficult to understand or solve

• The solution to the math problem was quite puzzling for the students.
• I find it puzzling that she hasn't replied to my text yet.
• It's so puzzling why he always wears those funky socks.
• The mystery of the missing keys remained a puzzling enigma for the detective.

adjective having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties

• She is known for being a resourceful problem-solver in the workplace.
• My friend is so resourceful, she can fix anything with just a paperclip and some tape.
• That guy is super resourceful, he always knows how to hustle and make things work.
• In the game of life, being resourceful is like having a secret weapon up your sleeve.

noun a word that functions as the name of a specific person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action, occurrence, or state of being

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence

• I encourage you to take a crack at solving this complex mathematical problem.
• Hey, why don't you take a crack at fixing the leaky faucet in the kitchen?
• I think you should take a crack at learning how to skateboard.
• Sometimes you just have to take a crack at new challenges to see what you're capable of.

noun the quality of being imperative; importance or urgency

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• The imperativeness of following proper procedures cannot be overstated in a professional setting.
• It's really important to understand the imperativeness of meeting deadlines at work.
• Dude, you gotta get the imperativeness of studying for this exam, it's no joke.
• The imperativeness of taking care of our planet is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.