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

• 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

Overall, aspirin makes the environment more challenging for cancer to get a foothold in, particularly for people with the genetic makeup predisposed to dysregulated cell function, where cancer cell growth and division is more likely. —New Atlas, 18 Sep. 2025

Prior to that win, however, the team faced a challenging run that included three losses in five matches. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025

Mendoza did not strike down the parts of HB 1069 that require school districts to follow a state policy for challenging books. —James B. Blasingame, The Conversation, 17 Sep. 2025

That means Americans are dealing with both high prices and a challenging job market. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1