challenging

adjective

chal·​leng·​ing ˈcha-lən-jiŋ How to pronounce challenging (audio)
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 adverb

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
All of these factors combine to make AI adoption incredibly challenging, expensive and time-consuming. Dave Friend, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 As such, piloting an FPV drone is a completely different, entirely more challenging kettle of fish than piloting a standard camera drone. Sam Kieldsen, Wired News, 27 June 2025 The move is part of a push to bring manufacturing jobs back to America, although experts have said making phones domestically at scale is a challenging, if not impossible, task – particularly under the September timeframe originally promised. Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 26 June 2025 The world’s largest wildlife crossing is entering Stage 2 The second and final stage of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing begins in July with tasks far more challenging than the first phase. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for challenging

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of challenging was in 1841

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Challenging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/challenging. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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