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

• arduous
• Augean
• backbreaking
• demanding
• difficult
• effortful
• exacting
• formidable
• grueling
• gruelling
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• herculean
• killer
• laborious
• moiling
• murderous
• pick-and-shovel
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stiff
• strenuous
• sweaty
• tall
• testing
• toilsome
• tough
• uphill

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

Despite being born into a socioeconomically challenging environment, Muhammad realized early that empowerment could come from knowledge. —Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 10 May 2025

Saving for retirement has become more challenging for many reasons. —Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 May 2025

On one hand, the problem makes a manager’s life more challenging by limiting a team’s available options to potentially finish a close game. —Dan Hayes, New York Times, 10 May 2025

There is no doubt that organizational decisions of this nature can be challenging, and the prospect of acquiring a potential generational talent is enticing. —Mark Lasota, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1