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

When asked about the most challenging part of the project, Sousa didn't hesitate to point to the clouds. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 26 Nov. 2025

Her young star also mentions a scene featuring the daughter and her mother in a forest as a challenging interplay of movement and camera. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 26 Nov. 2025

The company has also highlighted that general-purpose hands remain one of the most challenging aspects that currently limit what robots can do. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Nov. 2025

The major announcement also comes as the team looks to secure a spot in the NFL Playoffs amid a challenging season. —Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1