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

What was the most challenging part of making the film? —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 15 Mar. 2026

Mater Dei’s girls squad held the confidence of being sharpened by the challenging Trinity League. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 15 Mar. 2026

Knicks head coach Mike Brown doesn’t think the first game back from the team’s five-game West Coast road trip should be any more challenging than any other game. —Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 15 Mar. 2026

Growing a family is a challenging but rewarding experience that deserves to be treated with dignity and made as comfortable as possible. —Ethan Stone, USA Today, 15 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1