synonym for good problem solving

Synonyms of problem

• as in challenge
• as in question
• as in troublesome
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Thesaurus Definition of problem

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• predicament
• Gordian knot
• sticky wicket
• brainteaser

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• silver bullet
• magic bullet
• interrogative

Thesaurus Definition of problem  (Entry 2 of 2)

• troublesome
• complicated

problematic

• inconvenient
• problematical
• importunate
• discommoding
• straightforward
• uncomplicated
• unproblematic
• undemanding

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun problem differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of problem are enigma , mystery , puzzle , and riddle . While all these words mean "something which baffles or perplexes," problem applies to a question or difficulty calling for a solution or causing concern.

In what contexts can enigma take the place of problem ?

While the synonyms enigma and problem are close in meaning, enigma applies to utterance or behavior that is very difficult to interpret.

When could mystery be used to replace problem ?

Although the words mystery and problem have much in common, mystery applies to what cannot be fully understood by reason or less strictly to whatever resists or defies explanation.

Where would puzzle be a reasonable alternative to problem ?

The words puzzle and problem are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, puzzle applies to an enigma or problem that challenges ingenuity for its solution.

When might riddle be a better fit than problem ?

In some situations, the words riddle and problem are roughly equivalent. However, riddle suggests an enigma or problem involving paradox or apparent contradiction.

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Thesaurus Entries Near problem

Cite this entry.

“Problem.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/problem. Accessed 19 Jun. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on problem

Nglish: Translation of problem for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of problem for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about problem

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The Solutionary Way: How to Do the Most Good and Least Harm

Zoe weil's new book lays out ways to transform systems that cause suffering..

Posted June 18, 2024 | Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

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• We can help humans and nonhumans not by quick fixes but rather by long-term humane solutions.
• Doing the most good and the least harm to people, animals, and the environment can ground our approach.

Zoe Weil , co-founder and president of the Institute for Humane Education (IHE), is considered a pioneer in the comprehensive humane education movement. She remains my go-to person for learning about how to make the world a better place for all beings, human and nonhuman, and her new book called Solutionary Way: Transform Your Life, Your Community, and the World for the Better is now my go-to source for explaining how to solve problems in ways that do the most good and least harm for everyone and why solutionary is not synonymous with problem-solver. Here's what she had to say about her landmark work.

Marc Bekoff: What is a solutionary, why did you write The Solutionary Way, and what is MOGO?

Zoe Weil: I wrote The Solutionary Way because the world desperately needs solutionaries: people who identify unsustainable, inhumane, and unjust systems and transform them so they do the most good and least harm for people, animals, and ecosystems. Ensuring that we solve problems in ways that do the most good and least harm for everyone, what I call MOGO (short for MOst GOod), is the ethical foundation underlying solutionary thinking and action and why solutionary is not synonymous with problem-solver. Engineers can solve the problem of blowing up a mountaintop for coal removal, but they are not solutionaries.

Solutionaries are also not the same as humanitarians. Humanitarians work to alleviate suffering, whether of people or nonhuman animals. Humanitarianism is essential, but we also need solutionaries to end the societal systems that cause suffering. This may seem obvious, but being a solutionary is often overlooked or bypassed even though it is crucial to solving problems. This may be because it requires long-term commitment and doesn’t usually provide a quick fix. It can, however, lead to permanent fixes, which should be our ultimate goal.

To give you a sense of what this effort entails, solutionaries:

• conduct careful research to understand the root and systemic causes of the problems they want to solve,
• identify the best leverage points for change,
• develop solutions that have the fewest (or no) unintended negative consequences,
• implement their most solutionary ideas, and
• assess and iterate based on outcomes.

It’s discouraging when caring, dedicated people who want to build a more compassionate, healthy, and just world employ tactics that undermine their goals because they haven’t taken the time to really think and act like a solutionary. My book is meant to provide people with the vision, motivation , and practical tools so they can be as effective as possible in solving the problems they care about.

MB: How does your book relate to your background and general areas of interest?

ZW: It’s the culmination of my decades of work as a humane educator teaching about the interconnected issues of animal protection, human rights, and environmental sustainability. I’ve asked thousands of people if they think that the MOGO principle is a good principle by which to live, and no one has ever said no. The Solutionary Way provides a road map for taking this principle and putting it into practice so that we strive not only to lead our personal lives in a MOGO way but also to develop societal systems that have this principle as a foundation.

MB: Who do you hope to reach with this important book?

ZW: I wrote this book for everyone who yearns for a more humane, sustainable, and just world and wants to discover their role in building it. I wrote it for people who are concerned about a range of problems but don’t know how they can truly solve them and make a meaningful difference. I wrote it for activists who want to be more effective. And I wrote it for people of all ages—Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, and Boomers. If you are someone who cares, I wrote it for you. If you care about animals, this book will help you create a more humane future for them and end practices that are cruel. If you care about people, this book will help you build a more just society. If you care about the environment , this book will help you create more sustainable systems and policies. And if you face problems that are affecting you personally, this book will give you the tools to solve them, too.

MB: What are some of the major topics you consider?

• How improv comedy taught me the basics of a solutionary mindset that leads to next-level change
• How to identify your own solutionary path
• The components of solutionary thinking
• The four phases of the solutionary process
• Where and how solutionary solutions are arising in food systems, production, biomedical research, education, and more

MB: How does your book differ from others concerned with some of the same general topics?

ZW: While there are a lot of books about how to address specific problems that relate to animals or the environment or social justice, there aren’t many that offer a way to build a world that is truly peaceful, sustainable, and humane for everyone . The book is also practical. It provides a framework to solve the problems you care about. And it’s grounded in the reality that when we solve problems collaboratively and across divides, we build relationships, diminish destructive polarization, cultivate evidence-based optimism , and find greater purpose in our lives. So, in addition to being a book about solving challenges, it’s also a book about finding meaning and community.

MB: Many people care about nonhumans and our fascinating planet. Why do they need to cultivate a solutionary approach to address the challenges animals and nature face?

ZW: You’re absolutely right, many people care deeply, so deeply that they may also face depression and despair as they witness suffering and destruction. They may feel not just sorrow but also fury about what we are doing to other species, each other, and our beautiful planet, and they may struggle to direct these painful emotions toward positive change. The solutionary way is the best strategy I’ve discovered to address these intersecting challenges. It’s an effective, positive approach that leads to more compassionate and sustainable communities and world. Being a solutionary is good for you and everyone your life impacts, which is why I hope people read The Solutionary Way and become solutionaries.

In conversation with Zoe Weil, author of books including The World Becomes What We Teach: Educating a Generation of Solutionaries , Most Good, Least Harm: A Simple Principle for a Better World and Meaningful Life , The Power and Promise of Humane Education , and Above All, Be Kind: Raising a Humane Child in Challenging Times .

Marc Bekoff, Ph.D. , is professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

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Unwinding Wordle: Accelerating Your Solve

Tips for the game derived from our solver data, plus more from the game’s editor and its devoted community of solvers.

By Isaac Aronow

Wordle has captivated millions of players since it started gaining popularity at the end of 2021. While the game’s strategy seems straightforward, Wordle has a devoted community of daily solvers who have spent years developing techniques to improve their solve. No matter your reasons for solving, a little knowledge goes a long way when you’re trying to get better, so I, Isaac Aronow, an editor on the Games team, reached out to the game’s editor as well as some of its most dedicated fans for their best advice.

Remember the rules

Before we get too deep into the steps you can take to improve, it helps to remember the basics. You get six guesses to find the day’s five letter word. A yellow square means the letter is in the word, but not in the right spot. A green square means the letter is in the word and in the correct spot. A gray square means the letter is not in the word. I’ve also found that it helps to think about what the answer won’t be: plurals that end in S, nearly all verbs that end with -ED and any vulgar or obscene words. You can still guess these words to help yourself find letters, but they’ll never be the answer.

Wordle doesn’t have a difficulty curve throughout the course of the week like the daily crossword puzzle, but Tracy Bennett, Wordle’s editor, is always thinking about how tricky her word choices are. She said that she considers herself a steward of Josh Wardle’s original list, though she adds or removes a few words every month, adding that the game “wasn’t originally conceived as a game tens of millions of people would play,” and that the word list needed a bit of adjusting after The New York Times acquired it in 2022. The difficulty of each word is tested by a panel and adjustments to timing or content are made with their feedback in mind.

For an added challenge, solvers also have the option to play in hard mode, where you must use the letters you have already discovered in your subsequent guesses.

While everything in this guide might be a lot to take in all at once, breaking everything into parts and setting goals for yourself will help you set yourself up for future success. Maybe you want to build a long streak, maybe you want to solve in fewer average guesses, or maybe there’s another goal you have. Focus on the information you think will be more helpful to you in reaching your goal, then make sure you solve with that goal in mind.

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There’s A Genuinely Good Chance That You Haven’t Seen These 37 Problem-Solving Kitchen Products

Go on. Check them out and let me know if I'm wrong.

BuzzFeed Staff

1. A Le Creuset magnetic trivet  if you're always dangerously juggling hot plates. This GENIUS invention allows you to simply hover a hot pot over the trivet and — BAM! — the trivet will stick to the bottom, and you can place the pot on any nearby, stable surface. Gone are the days of frantically shouting, "Can someone help me in here?!" when your hands are full.

Promising review: "The wood is really super nice, smooth, and clean. It sticks great to the pan, and the silicone rings add great shock absorption, so it doesn't make a lot of noise when I send down my heavy-ass 13-some-inch skillet! It cleans off easily; I've only used it a handful of times, but it still looks brand new! A little pricey, but it's a premium kitchen thing. I recommend don't settle for something cheaper." — K. Lujan

Get it from Amazon for   $49.95 .

2. A wineglass clip  for securing your delicate glassware in the dishwasher so you don't have to wash them by hand anymore. Score!

Wine Wash Co. is a small business based in Houston, Texas.

Promising review: "These work with all of our wineglasses, including my Riedels, thin champagne flutes, and crystal wineglasses. Our KitchenAid dishwasher came with a wine rack, but it didn't hold our taller wineglasses, so this little gadget did the trick. Very easy to use. I keep them clipped in between cycles now that I’ve found a good spot for them. Extra helpful for dinner party clean up. Cheers to never washing wineglasses by hand again!" — Amazon Customer

Get a four-pack from Amazon for $15 .

3. A plant-based  cooking oil solidifier  (you might remember it from Shark Tank !) because it makes getting rid of leftover grease easier than whatever method you're using right now. Simply sprinkle the powder in your remaining oil while it's still hot, let it cool, and then scoop it into the trash.

FryAway is a woman-owned small business started by Laura Lady, who loves both cooking and being kind to the planet. They donate 1% of revenue to nonprofits focused on water conservation.

Promising review: "Honestly, I didn’t know if this would work; waiting for it to cool down made me nervous, but once it was at room temperature, it was solid. It popped out of the fryer so nicely. Worth every penny." — Emma

Get it from Amazon for $12.99  (available in three styles).

4. A pack of  towel clips  that'll prevent kids and pets from pulling down the towel. Or, maybe you have neither of those things, yet your hand and kitchen towels  always  end up on the ground.

Promising review: "This clip is amazing. No more towels falling on the floor. It was becoming a routine thing since my cat thinks it's fun to pull the kitchen towels off the oven. Not now, bad kitty! Great product...wish I had bought one sooner!" — Joanna

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $12.99 .

5. A dishwasher-safe  wine-saving carafe  so you can enjoy a bottle for up to 7 days after uncorking.

This is designed for nonsparkling  wines.

Promising review: "I never know how much of a bottle I want; the nice part about this wine storage is that it’s easy, it’s beautiful, it’s clear, so you know how much is left, and it’s super easy to clean . As a busy mom, sometimes I want 1 glass, sometimes I want 1.5, LOL. This makes it both fun and easy to keep the wine fresh! " — Evan

Get it from Amazon for $49.97+ (available in five colors).

6. A cookware set with detachable handles  to replace the clunky pots and pans that are currently (and very inefficiently, I might add!) taking up basically all the storage space in your cabinets. The removable handle attaches to all pieces and then you can pop it off and stick it in a separate drawer while you neatly stack the pots and pans in half the space your old set needed.

This set includes one removable handle, two frypans (9'' and 10''), one saucepan (2 quarts), and a silicone lid glass lid.

Promising review: "This set has been a dream! With my kids helping with dishes, this set has made the pots/pans cabinet a non-issue. Before, we had to stack the pans together, but they’d get stacked wonky because of the handles. With this set, we keep the handles in the utensil drawer and the rest stacked together. I typically cook without the handles attached (depending on the meal, of course) and clip on once complete to move the pan wherever it needs to go. I rinse the handle of any debris and put it away. Grab the storage lid and plop the pan directly into the fridge. This set has made a huge difference in my desire to cook, as the hassle from start to finish is a fraction of what it was with my old set! " — Brooke

Get a five-piece set from Amazon for $39.99+  (available in two color combinations).

7. A dirty dishwasher indicator  if you find yourself thinking, "What's it gonna be today?" when you open your dishwasher. If your household doesn't consistently flip the clean/dirty dishwasher magnets, try this instead! It sits inside your dishwasher, so you know if dishes are clean or dirty depending on whether the container has water in it.

Promising review: "I have been looking for a dishwasher done indicator to use on a stainless steel front (no magnets). This is the BOMB. NO moving parts. No flimsy clips. No tape, glue, or magnets. Simply slip it over the edge of the bottom basket, and you are good. The sturdy clip does not flex, so there is no wear and tear. The action of the washer fills up the tube. DONE. The first time you open the door after washing, tip out the tube, and you are ready again. Hooray...something that works." — MRMACHINE of Raleigh

Get it from Amazon for $12.99 .

8. A pack of reusable toaster bags for when a 2 a.m. craving for a grilled cheese hits but you don't want to dirty a pan. Just plop your bread and cheese in the bag and then in the toaster and you're minutes away from ooey gooey cheesy goodness. And they're great for helping prevent cross contamination if someone in your house has food allergies.

These reusable bags are good for 50–100 washes and can hold pizza, chicken nuggets, and pastries.

Promising review: "I love using these! Since I live alone, I don't like having to dirty a skillet to make just one sandwich. This makes a great sandwich in the toaster without any muss or fuss. They're easy to clean; just wipe it out or use a little soap and water if needed. The nonstick feature is very helpful." — Branwynmars

Get a set of four from Amazon for $4.70 .

9. A foil pan protector  because your one job is to bring a dish to the family potluck, but your flimsy foil pans are doing their darnedest to leak everywhere. Enter the Fancy Panz. Simply plop your foil pan inside it (there's a riser so you can use it for both shallow and deep foil pans), and you'll have peace of mind knowing your pasta salad isn't sloshing around in the backseat leaking dressing all over your car. You can even stack 'em — that's how sturdy they are.

Promising review: "Skeptical yet very satisfied!! I was a little skeptical, but it was worth it. Love it! No collapsing to worry about, so less mess, and I can stack on top without it getting smushed!! " — Jennifer Miles

Get it from Amazon for $25.99  (available in nine colors).

10. A cast-iron scrubber  that'll lift leftover food grit — not the pan's seasoning. This'll save you a heck of a lot of time now that you're not trying to scrub away stubborn stains with a fragile sponge.

Because this scrubber is metal, you should avoid using it on nonstick pans as it can scratch and damage the surface.

Promising review: "I love the product. I wish I had known about it when I first got my cast-iron skillet over a year ago. It is really easy to use and did a great job getting the crud off of the skillet without stripping the seasoning away and it was fast. I find myself using my cast-iron more frequently since purchasing this product because I no longer dread the cleanup process. If you have cast-iron cookware then you need one of these babies. I will definitely recommend it to others." — KeCaRi

Get it from Amazon for $17.99 . This customer review is long but it's full of great tips if you end up purchasing this scrubber.

11. A set of refrigerator drip catchers  so there isn't always  a puddle in the water tray...and the floor in front of your fridge. They sit securely in the tray thanks to their magnetic design.

Promising review: "This pad fits perfectly in our Samsung four-door in-door ice/water dispenser. Catches the occasional drips and matches the color of the dispenser perfectly. The four-pack lets you wash one and place another one into service immediately." — Amazon Customer

Get a two-pack for $12.93+ (available in three colors and packs of four).

12. A 2-in-1 kitchen scale and measuring cup  to reduce the number of dirty dishes you create and ensure your measurements are accurate.

Promising review: "This scale with a built-in cup is the best thing for my baking tools. No more whipping out 1,000,000 cups. Also, [rather than] always trying to figure out grams or cups, now I just press a button, and it tells me I love this." — Corin lonigro

Get it from Amazon for $20.29+ (available in three colors).

13. A  Souper Cube  if weeknight dinners take you no less than an hour and a half to make (and that's not counting cleanup time!). This silicone freezing tray stores perfectly portioned soups, stews, sauces, and more so you can meal prep in bulk over the weekend and then freeze it in these trays. It's so easy to quickly grab them as needed and defrost them for an easy meal.

Each tray has four fill lines — 1/2 cup, 1 cup, 125 mL, and 250 mL — which is ideal for people who like to portion their food.

You may remember Souper Cube from Shark Tank  (Lori invested in the company!). This small business was started by four friends who loved soup but hated food waste.

Promising review: "So happy that I found these. I’m the only one in my household who enjoys soup year-round. Have you ever tried to make homemade soup for one? I say it’s impossible! But no longer. I can brew up the stock pot with bone broth or my favorite home soup. Fill up my Souper Cubes, freeze, pop out, store my goodies in a freezer bag, and I’m ready for the next batch!" — Debbie R. Texas

Get it from Amazon for $19.95  (available in three colors and in a two-pack).

Check out my colleague's  Souper Cubes review !

14. A 6-in-1 kitchen tool  for replacing a ton of kitchen utensils, which means fewer things for you to wash! Use it as a whisk, egg separator, slotted spoon, colander, masher, or grinder/grater.

Promising review: "This is quite possibly my favorite new kitchen gadget. It is so sturdy, well-made, and versatile. I will be buying more to add to gifts for friends who are having bridal showers and housewarming parties." — Nancy Holmes

Get it from Amazon for $8.99 .

15. A Spoon Buddy utensil rest and holder  because not only does it help keep your countertops clean when you need to put down a dirty spoon or spatula, but it also functions as a measuring cup and a jar gripper. 

Promising review: "This product makes it easy to keep your spoon close and prevents getting a mess from drips on the stove." — John H. Parton

16. A lasagna trio pan that'll help you prepare meals for everyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions. Mamma mia! *insert chef finger kiss*

Promising review: "In a family of six, there are always SOME who don't like what everyone else is eating. This is a pan where making three different kinds of lasagna doesn't require much if any, more effort than making a single lasagna with the same dimensions.  It takes the same amount of time to layer the noodles and the same amount of time to build the things...but you have three different builds to satisfy those darned picky kids. Or hey, go adult gourmet in a way that Olive Garden cannot. What's fun with this pan is it's not just lasagna. I tried making bread with it to good effect. Yeah, the loaves looked a little weird, but I DON'T CARE. I did it, and that's all. It gives me what I prize most in cooking gear...versatility. Easy to clean, certainly...and nonstick, though that requires a little care (use wood, not metal utensils). With proper care and feeding, these are made to last pretty much forever. I love it." — J. Tant

Get it from Amazon for $22.99 .

17. Some lemon wedge wraps  so you can squeeze your citrus with reckless abandon and never worry that you'll find a seed in your drink or dish.

Promising review: "I love lemonade and lemon juice drizzled over my baked fish, but I hate those slippery little seeds. These lemon covers are perfect. They stop me from calling the seeds dirty names because they are sometimes hard to pick up. I use them all the time." — Wanda C.

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $6.13 .

18. A salad sling  (from Shark Tank !) to dry greens, lettuce, and herbs without a salad spinner. Yep! Just wrap 'em in this green microfiber cloth and start slinging it around your kitchen — just don't let go or your romaine will go flying.

Promising review: "Don't even ask me what my previous process was for drying my greens because this one takes the cake ! It works effectively at drying your greens in seconds and then you just throw it in the wash once you're done, which frees up space in your dishwasher if you're used to using a salad spinner. Bonus use: When I was done drying the greens, I had other vegetables that I needed to wash, so I placed them on the Salad Sling and dabbed them dry before chopping. Since the waterproof liner traps moisture, it worked much better than an un-environmentally friendly paper towel or annoyingly thin dishtowel. I highly recommend this for people who are sick of salad spinning and using paper towels/thin dishtowels to dry their greens/veggies." — Kristen N.

Get it from Amazon for $23.99 .

19. A set of toss-and-chop salad tongs  if you don't want to waste time pulling out a whole chopping board (that you will have to clean later) to transform your romaine into bite-sized pieces. Scissor supremacy! Use these blades to slice your greens as well as your toppings: eggs, tomatoes, radishes, cucumbers, pieces of chicken, olives, apples, and more.

Promising review : "Love these! I hate big leafy salads, so I bought these, and they're perfect for chopping greens into bites. I also use them to quickly chop cherry tomatoes, onions, and other veggies. VERY nice quality." — asoon

Get it from Amazon for $18.76 . 

20. An onion holder  for a more secure grip and more evenly sized slices of onions, tomatoes, lemons, eggs, potatoes, and fruits. You can even use it as a meat tenderizer!

Promising review: "I’ve used this on different fruits and veggies and love it! I have a mandolin slicer and a food processor that slices, but it is easier just to use this tool . Nice and even slices of tomatoes and onions every time !" — Bekkster

Get it from Amazon for $9.98 .

21. A set of modular sheet pan dividers  because no, you don't need to suffer through veggies that are burned to a crisp because you had to leave the pan in the oven to make sure the salmon was fully cooked. With this handy system, you can just remove individual trays when the ingredients are fully cooked.

Promising review: "Brilliant. 100,000% Recommend them! It lets me separate veggies by how long they take to cook so they are all ready at the same time and nothing is over/undercooked. I love these cheat sheets. They are a great tool for my kitchen. " — yule

Get a set of four from Amazon for $29.99  (lids available for purchase separately). 

22. A set of  oven liners  that'll catch crumbs  before  they can permanently attach themselves to your oven and create a big freaking mess you'll spend hours cleaning. Raise your hand if you hate cleaning your oven. Great. Now take that same hand and click the "add to cart" button.

Promising review: "I got tired of cleaning the bottom of my oven out after every drip and spill or running the 'oven clean' option, which uses up so much energy and makes my house HOT during the process. I used to have foil on the bottom of the oven to help with spills, and that improved things greatly — but then you have to replace the foil after a while. I had to cut them to size, which was easy to do with a simple pair of household scissors. Then I placed them in the oven ( they look nice! ), and I waited for them to get messy. I cooked something super messy and finally needed to clean the liner. It was SO easy ; I put it in the sink and used my sink sprayer, and everything immediately slid right off the liner. No problem! I have a double oven, so I was glad this pack came with more than one. I have one in each oven and one on standby in case I need it. I know that having a dirty oven isn't the worst thing in the world, but if it matters to you, try these! " — Hpg

Get a set of three from Amazon for $13.99 .

23. A super-convenient tofu press so you can squeeze out as much water as possible from your tofu (preventing it from getting soggy and also helping it better absorb yummy marinades and spices) without needing to come back every 30 minutes to place a heavier book on top of your paper towel–wrapped tofu block.

Plus, all the water collects at the bottom, so there's no mess and no need for paper towels.

Promising review: "I've been eating tofu quite often. What I needed was a way to improve the texture. Even the 'extra firm' was too mushy. I searched through the many types of tofu presses and found this one. I like that there are only three parts, and everything is easy to clean. The tofu comes out perfect every time and doesn't take long at all. By the next day, it's ready to use. Even a few hours will do the trick!" — Margaret B.

Get it from Amazon for $21.99 .

24. A pouring chute  to save you a lot of frustration when you're baking. Both wet and dry ingredients slide down seamlessly and into the mixing bowl instead of ending up on the counter...which you will now have to clean. 

Promising review: "I have struggled with the pouring shields that came with my KitchenAid and Cuisinart stand mixers. They were messy and hard to use. I purchased this and forgot I had it! LOL. This weekend, I have been making tons of cookies and tried the New Metro chute out, and OMG! It works great. No mess. The flour or liquids go into the bowl and nowhere else. It's sturdy and super easy to use and clean. I highly recommend it. It's a quality product." — Retep

Get it from Amazon for $22.31 (also available in a two-pack).

25. A pair of silicone stands  if you don't wash your emotional support water bottle as much as you should because it's annoying how long it takes for it to dry. These provide a sturdy base so your bottles don't tip over while also allowing air to flow to ensure your bottles fully dry.

These are designed to work with a variety of brands including Stanley, Hydro Flask, Owala, Yeti, and more.

Promising review: "I wash my thermal cups by hand and found these individual drying racks to be helpful for getting my cups dry quickly and without taking up space in my drying rack . They fit a wide variety of thermal cup sizes. [They are made of] pliable rubber and don't allow the cups to tip over while drying. They vent air well and allow for excess water to sluice off the inside of the cup and drain." — Sonya Groves

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $8.88 (also available in four- and six-packs).

26. An air fryer basket  you can use in the oven for whipping up crispy, crunchy foods that *taste* like they came straight from the air fryer...no air fryer needed! It's great for people who 1) don't want to shell out for an air fryer (esp. one that's bulky/an appliance you're not sure you'll use), or 2) want to cook larger quantities of food than their air fryer can currently hold. 

Promising review: "I wanted to simulate air-frying in a countertop or conventional oven. This product does the trick, more so in my conventional oven; it has a 'speed-bake' feature that simulates a confection oven. It’s small enough to fit in my countertop oven. Love that the tray catches drips, and it doubles up nicely as a cookie sheet for small batches of chocolate chips! Cleanup is a dream. I cook-spray it prior to use, then treat it as cast iron while cleaning it (i.e., very hot water and a scrubby sponge — no soap on the baking surface). I use a little soapy water on the rim and 'feet,' so there is no oily buildup there. (I also foil or parchment paper line the drip sheet to make cleanup that much easier, but that’s just me. I’m pretty sure it’s not necessary as the non-stick finish seems pretty danged good so far.)" — Joanna Aislinn

Get it from Amazon for $19.89+  (available in three sizes).

27. A pair of  meat shredder claws  because pulling apart pounds of pork with two measly forks is not efficient or fun. 

Promising review: "I just made 26 pounds of pork butt for a large family gathering. Several months ago, I did the same thing, and my husband and I shredded it together with four forks. We scorched our hands repeatedly, and it took over 70 minutes. I looked at several shredding forks and settled in on these and I sure am glad I did! They are solid, light, and sharp. They are not hollow on the back side, so meat doesn't get stuck in them. It didn't take long to get the hang of them. They double as handles to pick the large 8.5 pounds of butts, which was very nice. They really do become extensions of your hands! I had read reviews that said that these don't let you get meat shredded finely, but that was certainly not my experience. Although I haven't used them on other sorts of meat yet, this pork was fall-off-the-bone tender, and it shredded very finely for me. And it did it so fast! I shredded all 26 pounds by myself in less than 30 minutes and didn't burn my hands once.  I wish I hadn't waited so long to get these...It really does beat the two-fork system!" — L. Smith

Get it from Amazon for $14.99  (available in four colors).

28. A bagel knife  that'll ensure a quick and even slice. Raise your hand if every time you cut a bagel, you have one side that's 1-inch thick while the other side is barely 1/2-inch thick. Great! Now take that hand and add this to your cart.

Promising review: "I bought this for my husband, who is the "official" bagel cutter in the house. He doesn't like bagel guillotines and our knives are too sharp and present an issue with accidental finger cuts. So far this has worked on varied girth bagels with ease. This is a great item!" — JW

Get it from Amazon for $17.99 .

29. A pizza storage container  so you don't lose the *entire* second shelf in your fridge to a pizza box. This expandable container grows to hold up to *5* slices of 'za, and creates an airtight lid that keeps your cheesy, pepperoni-y from getting stale or soggy. AND! The dividers prevent your pieces from sticking together while also serving as plates when you want to microwave your pizza.

Promising review: "I love this! I used the pizza pack to store four slices. They fit great and they were full-size slices. I also used the pizza trays included to warm up the pizza in the microwave. It did a pretty good job of getting the slices hot. I love the collapsible aspect. Great for easy storage. Great product, really good price, and made in the USA!!" — Tom Angiolillo

Get it from Amazon for $24.99  (available in eight colors).

30. A portable range hood  with five activated charcoal filters designed to suck up the odors, oils, and smoke that stink up your kitchen after cooking bacon, fish, and other delicious-yet-fragrant foods. It's also a great option for apartment dwellers or folks without a range hood.

Promising review: "This works exactly as stated and well. We just moved into a new place with no vent hood, so when we cook things like bacon on the stovetop we were worried about all the smoke and smell. This thing sucks it right away and works exactly as intended! " — Jennifer Billie

Get it from Amazon for $199.99 (available in four colors).

31. A 2-in-1 garlic press  if you're the type of person who's going to add three cloves (minimum!) when the recipe calls for two. This press slices *and* minces, so you don't need two separate gadgets.

Promising review: "I have carpal tunnel, so I like to minimize straining my muscles. I also have pretty small hands. This garlic press is really comfortable to use, albeit a little bit annoying to clean. I recently tried using a friend's garlic press, and the amount of force I needed to use really hurt my hands and wrists. If you've been avoiding getting a garlic press because you fear you lack wrist strength, this is the product for you. I'm never mincing or slicing garlic again. " — Jamie Sarmiento

Get it from Amazon for   $14.99 .

32. A pack of sink sound dampeners  for absorbing noise so the sound of running water or simply setting a pot in the sink to be cleaned doesn't make you cringe.

Promising review: "This product took the annoying ring out of my stainless sink and changed it to a dull thud. Just what I expected. Pads were easy to install and haven't had any adhesion issues in the month of heavy use with very hot water." — G. Fischer

Get nine pads from Amazon for $23.93 .

33. A time-saving  Thaw Belt  because you didn't remember to move your chicken from the freezer to the fridge, and now you're home from work, starving, exhausted, and seriously considering ordering takeout. This silicone strap keeps your meat submerged so it defrosts in minutes instead of hours.

Promising review: "I have never defrosted food so easily. Food that would've taken about 20 minutes normally (due to floating or having other items holding stuff down changing water temp) now only took a few minutes! " — Carissa Flowers

Get it from Amazon for $9.90 .

34. An ice cube tray  that'll make hollow cylindrical ice cubes — aka the perfect shape for your giant Stanleys and Hydro Flasks.

This tray is designed to make cubes that will fit in 30-oz. and 40-oz. tumblers.

Promising review: "I use these in my brumate and meoky cups, and they fit perfectly. I always struggle with getting my straw through the ice and in the middle so the lid will close. These ice cubes stay on the edge of the cup and allow plenty of room for the straw." — sarah schultz

Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in four colors).

35. An investment-worthy  MicrowavaBowl  so you don't have to constantly pause the microwave to mix your bowl to prevent cold spots. Yep, this dishwasher-safe bowl is designed to evenly distribute heat so your meal is perfectly warmed throughout.

Promising review: "These bowls are high quality and very convenient. They heat up food very quickly and evenly, therefore saving you valuable time and energy. Its ability to heat the food and not the bowl itself is very valuable to me. Prior to this purchase, I would have to use a hot bowl holder to avoid burning my fingers. The size of the bowls is perfect for the dishwasher, making them easy to clean and use. These bowls are sold at a reasonable price for what they have to offer. I would highly recommend them to friends and family!" — Alana

Get two from Amazon for $34.99 . 

36. A countertop composter  to turn your food scraps into natural fertilizer in less than 24 hours. Its compact size makes it a great option for people who don't have room for a backyard compost bin. And if you've tried composting already but were turned off by the smell and the pests it attracted, don't fret! This model is designed to be odor-free.

You'll get the composter, one filter, and two compost accelerator pods.

Promising review: "I held off on buying this because it seemed expensive, but I finally broke down and got the Lomi and am so glad I did! It makes compost efficient, and there's no smell at all. I've thrown kitchen scraps like fruit skins, lettuce scraps, egg shells, and some expired (and buggy) pasta, and it reduced it all down to lovely compost in a surprisingly short time. It does have a sound, but it's not obnoxious or loud. Being able to get these scraps broken down quickly helps keep the kitchen smelling clean, and I'm able to use the compost in my garden immediately. So great!" — Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $449 .

37. A  cutting board with a built-in colander  if you're all about efficiency in the kitchen. Now you don't have to waste paper towels drying off your produce or sprint from the sink to the counter trying to prevent your freshly washed potatoes from dripping all over your floor.

Promising review: "This is an extremely useful cutting board with a collapsible bowl for washing vegetables and/or fruits, draining them, or depositing scraps. It fits nicely over my sink and is easily cleaned and stored. Find myself using it every day!" — Patty Boh

Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in five colors).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.  

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What is another word for problem-solving ?

Synonyms for problem-solving prob·lem-solv·ing, this thesaurus page includes all potential synonyms, words with the same meaning and similar terms for the word problem-solving ., did you actually mean problem solving , ppdb, the paraphrase database rate these paraphrases: 0.0 / 0 votes.

List of paraphrases for "problem-solving":

troubleshooting , troubleshoot

How to pronounce problem-solving?

How to say problem-solving in sign language, words popularity by usage frequency.

How to use problem-solving in a sentence?

Alexander Kvamme :

The earlier in the company, the more creative Rami Essaid need to be, the more problem solving Rami Essaid're doing, and getting people in the same room to hash out problems, there's no substitute.

Robert Reed :

Learning is Problem Solving and Problem Solving is Learning

Loren Weisman :

The people who blame everything and every body else for their lack of success, tended to continue to have a lack of success. Your Proactive, problem solving minded, assertive and responsible approach is going to carry you much further than whining, blaming, pointing fingers and justifying your failures.

Matias Cortes :

These high-paying jobs require a lot of creativity and problem-solving, thats going to be difficult for new technologies to replace.

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Image credit, the web's largest resource for, synonyms & antonyms, a member of the stands4 network, free, no signup required :, add to chrome, add to firefox, browse synonyms.com, are you a human thesaurus, which of the following terms is not a synonym of "spread out", nearby & related entries:.

• problem noun
• problem solver noun
• problem solving noun
• problem-free
• problem-oriented language noun
• problem-solving
• problematic adj
• problematical adj
• problematique

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The Good Side: Juneteenth Mural Project

WASHINGTON (Gray DC) - Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery. It marks June 19th, 1865, the day thousands of enslaved people in Texas first learned they were free, more than 2 years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Absolute Equality Juneteenth Mural Project uses public art to educate communities about U.S. history and spark conversations of racial equity and social justice. They’ve already painted more than a dozen murals across the country. “The Good Side” looked at their latest project, located in Washington, D.C.

Copyright 2024 Gray DC. All rights reserved.

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Let’s Talk About Trump’s Gibberish

What the former president’s shark tirade says about American politics and media

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Perhaps the greatest trick Donald Trump ever pulled was convincing millions of people—and the American media—to treat his lapses into fantasies and gibberish as a normal, meaningful form of oratory. But Trump is not a normal person, and his speeches are not normal political events.

For too long, Trump has gotten away with pretending that his emotional issues are just part of some offbeat New York charm or an expression of his enthusiasm for public performance. But Trump is obviously unfit—and something is profoundly wrong with a political environment in which he can now say almost anything, no matter how weird, and his comments will get a couple of days of coverage and then a shrug, as if to say: Another day, another Trump rant about sharks .

Wait, what?

Yes, sharks. In Las Vegas on Sunday, Trump went off-script—I have to assume that no competent speechwriter would have drafted this—and riffed on the important question of how to electrocute a shark while one attacks. He had been talking, he claims, to someone about electric boats: “I say, ‘What would happen if the boat sank from its weight and you’re in the boat, and you have this tremendously powerful battery, and the battery’s now underwater, and there’s a shark that’s approximately 10 yards over there?’”

Read: Trump rants about sharks and everyone just pretends it’s normal

As usual, Trump noted how much he impressed his interlocutor with his very smart hypothetical: “And he said, ‘Nobody ever asks this question,’ and it must be because of MIT, my relationship to MIT. Very smart.” (MIT? Trump’s uncle taught there and retired over a half century ago, when Trump was in his 20s, and died in 1985. Trump often implies that his uncle passed on MIT’s brainpower by genetic osmosis or something.)

This ramble went on for a bit longer, until Trump made it clear that given his choice, he’d rather be zapped instead of eaten: “But you know what I’d do if there was a shark or you get electrocuted? I’ll take electrocution every single time. I’m not getting near the shark. So we’re going to end that, we’re going to end it for boats, we’re going to end it for trucks.”

Hopefully, this puts to rest any pressing questions among Americans about the presumptive Republican nominee’s feelings on electric vehicles and their relationship to at least two gruesome ways to die.

Sure, it seems funny— Haha! Uncle Don is telling that crazy shark story again! —until we remember that this man wants to return to a position where he would hold America’s secrets, be responsible for the execution of our laws, and preside as the commander in chief of the most powerful military in the world. A moment that seems like oddball humor should, in fact, terrify any American voter, because this behavior in anyone else would be an instant disqualification for any political office, let alone the presidency. (Actually, a delusional, rambling felon known to have owned weapons would likely fail a security check for even a visit to the Oval Office.)

Nor was the Vegas monologue the first time: Trump for years has fallen off one verbal cliff after another, with barely a ripple in the national consciousness. I am not a psychiatrist, and I am not diagnosing Trump with anything. I am, however, a man who has lived on this Earth for more than 60 years, and I know someone who has serious emotional problems when I see them played out in front of me, over and over . The 45th president is a disturbed person. He cannot be trusted with any position of responsibility—and especially not with a nuclear arsenal of more than 1,500 weapons. One wrong move could lead to global incineration.

Why hasn’t there been more sustained and serious attention paid to Trump’s emotional state?

First, Trump’s target audience is used to him. Watch the silence that descends over the crowds at such moments; when Trump wanders off into the recesses of his own mind, they chit-chat or check their phones or look around, waiting for him to come back and offer them an applause line. For them, it’s all just part of the show.

George T. Conway III: Unfit for office

Second, Trump’s staff tries to put just enough policy fiber into Trump’s nutty verbal soufflés that they can always sell a talking point later, as if his off-ramps from reality are merely tiny bumps in otherwise sensible speeches. Trump himself occasionally seems surprised when these policy nuggets pop up in a speech; when reading the teleprompter, he sometimes adds comments such as “so true, so true,” perhaps because he’s encountering someone else’s words for the first time and agreeing with them. Thus, they will later claim that questions about sharks or long-dead uncles are just bad-faith distractions from substance. (These are the same Republicans who claim that every verbal stumble from Joe Biden indicates full-blown dementia.)

Third, and perhaps most concerning in terms of public discussion, many people in the media have fallen under the spell of the Jedi hand-waves from Trump and his people that none of this is as disturbing and weird as it sounds. The refs have been worked: A significant segment of the media—and even the Democratic Party—has bought into a Republican narrative that asking whether Trump is mentally unstable is somehow biased and elitist, the kind of thing that could only occur to Beltway mandarins who don’t understand how the candidate talks to normal people.

Such objections are mendacious nonsense and represent a massive double standard. As Eugene Robinson of The Washington Post wrote today: “It is irresponsible to obsess over President Biden’s tendency to mangle a couple of words in a speech while Donald Trump is out there sounding detached from reality.” Biden’s mush-mouthed moments fall well within the range of normal gaffes. Had he or any other American politician said anything even remotely like one of Trump’s bizarre digressions, we’d be flooded with front-page stories about it. Pundits would be solemnly calling for a Much Needed National Conversation about the Twenty-Fifth Amendment.

It is long past time for anyone who isn’t in the Trump base to admit, and to keep talking about, something that has been obvious for years: Donald Trump is unstable. Some of these problems were evident when he first ran, and we now know from revelations by many of his former staff that his problems processing information and staying tethered to reality are not part of some hammy act.

Worse, the people who once managed Trump’s cognitive and emotional issues are gone, never to return. A second Trump White House will be staffed with the bottom of the barrel—the opportunists and hangers-on willing to work for a reprehensible man. His Oval Office will be empty of responsible and experienced public servants if the day comes when someone has to explain to him why war might be about to erupt on the Korean peninsula or why the Russian or Chinese nuclear forces have gone on alert, and he starts talking about frying sharks with boat batteries.

The 45th president is deeply unwell. It is long past time for Americans, including those in public life, to recognize his inability to serve as the 47th.