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Knottiest: meaning, definitions and examples

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knottiest

 

[ ˈnɑːtiəst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

difficult situation

The term 'knottiest' is the superlative form of 'knotty,' which means extremely difficult or complex. It is often used to describe problems, issues, or situations that are very challenging to resolve or understand.

Synonyms

most complicated, most intricate, trickiest

Examples of usage

  • The knottiest problem in mathematics is often considered to be the Riemann Hypothesis.
  • Finding a solution to the knottiest challenges of climate change requires global cooperation.
  • During the discussion, they focused on the knottiest aspects of the project that needed immediate attention.
Context #2 | Adjective

physical attributes

In a physical context, 'knottiest' can refer to something that has many knots or is very twisted and tangled. This is often used to describe materials like ropes, wood, or hair.

Synonyms

gnarled, tangled, twisted

Examples of usage

  • The knottiest piece of wood was perfect for the sculpture.
  • She untangled the knottiest strands of her hair before going out.
  • He struggled with the knottiest sections of the rope while climbing.

Translations

Translations of the word "knottiest" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mais complicado

🇮🇳 सबसे जटिल

🇩🇪 am kompliziertesten

🇮🇩 paling rumit

🇺🇦 найскладніший

🇵🇱 najtrudniejszy

🇯🇵 最も複雑な

🇫🇷 le plus compliqué

🇪🇸 el más complicado

🇹🇷 en karmaşık

🇰🇷 가장 복잡한

🇸🇦 الأكثر تعقيدًا

🇨🇿 nejkomplikovanější

🇸🇰 najzložitejší

🇨🇳 最复杂的

🇸🇮 najbolj zapleten

🇮🇸 flóknasti

🇰🇿 ең күрделі

🇬🇪 მეტყველების ყველაზე რთული

🇦🇿 ən mürəkkəb

🇲🇽 el más complicado

Etymology

The word 'knotty' originates from the Old English word 'cnotta,' which means 'knot.' Over time, the word evolved to describe not just a physical knotted state, but also metaphorically to refer to complicated situations. The superlative form 'knottiest' emerged as a natural linguistic progression, allowing speakers to express varying degrees of difficulty or complexity. The usage of 'knotty' in phrases concerning challenges has been popularized in literature and conversation, especially in academic and professional settings, where complex problems are commonplace. As English evolved, so did the nuances of words like 'knottiest,' reflecting our increasing need to articulate the intricacies of both physical and metaphorical knots in various contexts.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #41,108, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.