challenging

adjective

chal·​leng·​ing ˈcha-lən-jiŋ 

1

: arousing competitive interest, thought, or action

a challenging course of study

a challenging job

2

: invitingly provocative : fascinating

a challenging personality

challenging questions

challengingly

ˈcha-lən-jiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms of challenging

• difficult
• tough
• rigorous
• demanding
• hard

Examples of challenging in a Sentence

I find the job challenging and fun.

Teaching is challenging but rewarding work.

It's a challenging book that requires careful reading.

The slope was challenging for even the most experienced climbers.

Recent Examples on the Web

These include Madeira Airport, in joint third place with Pitkin County Airport, which is known as having one of the world’s most challenging approaches. — Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026

Foreman said Florida's late-summer primary date can make generating voter enthusiasm particularly challenging. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

That quest to spark happiness during challenging times is precisely what inspired the textile artist Rashelle Campbell to start making her now-signature rugs. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026

But the true tell for this tire is testing it out in challenging conditions. — Scotty Reiss, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1