taxing

1 of 2

adjective

tax·​ing ˈtak-siŋ 

: onerous, wearing

a taxing operatic role

taxingly

ˈtak-siŋ-lē 

adverb

taxing

2 of 2

present participle of tax entry 2

Synonyms of taxing

Adjective

• challenging
• demanding
• difficult

Examples of taxing in a Sentence

Adjective

The journey proved to be very taxing.

a very taxing workload that is taking a lot of time to finish

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Stacy Revere / Getty Images After one of his most taxing years, Sanders decided to shift from a roster-building ethos that was untenable long-term. — Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

But for those who compete against the best players in the world, gaming can be surprisingly physically and mentally taxing. — Erica D. Henn, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026

Getting the final emotional beats of the series right was equally taxing. — Hilton Dresden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026

Roberts thought Sheehan’s second-inning pitch count had become too taxing for a pitcher who returned from Tommy John surgery less than a year ago. — Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1841, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for taxing

• faxing
• waxing
• relaxing