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

Mortgage rates remain elevated, and broader affordability concerns continue to weigh on voters, creating a challenging backdrop for Republicans trying to sell their economic agenda. —Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 12 Apr. 2026

So, yes, that -- that is very challenging. —ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026

Now, perhaps the beauty and opportunity in this otherwise very challenging moment in time in our country is there is an opportunity for lots of ground-up solutions and programs to fill a lot of the voids that are out there. —Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026

But the area is significantly more challenging to navigate than those near the moon’s equator, where the Apollo astronauts touched down. —Denise Chow, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1