taxing one's ingenuity in devising something; agonizing over design or creation; making strenuous efforts to devise good ways and means
A yojijukugo describing the intense mental effort and creative struggle involved in designing, planning, or devising something. Often used in literary or formal contexts to emphasize the painstaking process of creation.
His new work is a masterpiece born after much agonizing over its design.
意匠惨憺して練り上げた企画がようやく採用された。
The plan, devised after strenuous efforts, was finally adopted.
苦心惨憺 also means taking great pains, but it is broader and refers to any kind of hard work or struggle, not specifically to creative design or ingenuity.
Standard kanji form for this yojijukugo.
Variant kanji form using 澹 instead of 憺; both are encountered.
Formed from 意匠, “idea, design, or creative conception,” and 惨憺, “painstaking effort.” It describes laboring intensely to devise an idea, plan, or artistic design.