⚠️ A big problem 🛠️ A smoothing tool

facer

9.9

A sudden problem that is hard to deal with

noun
/ˈfeɪsə/

Archaic

: dificultad

A bit of a facer for poor old Watson, sir.

Examples

The sudden change in the project requirements presented a significant facer for the team.
The unexpected rainstorm was quite a facer for the outdoor wedding plans.
Finding out he had lost his wallet was a real facer during his trip.

Synonyms

pitfall

vsfacer

35 4.8

An unexpected problem that is not obvious at first

is sudden and more striking rather than hidden or subtle

rub

vsfacer

Informal

22 7.7

An unexpected problem that makes a plan or situation more difficult

is sudden and often more serious or challenging

thorny challenge

vsfacer

7.4

A difficult problem that needs careful handling

is sudden and unexpected rather than prolonged or planned

Antonyms

ease

304 1.0

A state of comfort and freedom from worry

How Serious

disaster

∞ 1.0

crisis

∞ 3.1

facer

Archaic

9.9

problem

∞ 1.2

setback

148 3.6

difficulty

651 2.4

nuisance

62 3.6

Surface Forms

facer singular

facers plural

Morphology

facer = face (opaque) = face + er

The sense 'a sudden or unexpected difficulty' is dated/idiomatic and not predictable from 'face' + '-er' for an average learner.

Etymology

Facer used for a sudden problem comes from the word face ('to confront') plus the agent ending -er, so it is literally something you must 'face', and that's why it means an unexpected or serious difficulty.