challenging

1 of 2

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 entry 1

a challenging personality

challenging questions

challengingly

ˈcha-lən-jiŋ-lē 

adverb

challenging

2 of 2

present participle of challenge entry 1

Synonyms of challenging

Adjective

• difficult
• tough
• rigorous
• demanding
• hard

Examples of challenging in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

Naval engineer Ilya Espino de Marotta takes the helm Monday as the first woman to lead the Panama Canal administration, stepping into the role at a challenging time for the vital maritime route. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

AtlasROVER is designed to operate in challenging environments and can carry different mission-specific payloads, according to XTEND. — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026

The Bruins face a long and challenging season, but the Chesney Train won Game 1 and shows no signs of slowing down. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

The snake outgrows it, pressing itself against the earth, against rock, against whatever will give it enough resistance to begin the challenging work of leaving one form behind. — Emma Watson, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1