1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
an exceptionally challenging brainteaser
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demanding
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
a challenging test designed to whittle down the number of contestants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in questioning
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of
don't hesitate to challenge any statement that generalizes about people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
as in requiring
to have as a requirement
having to put up with an overbearing boss challenges forbearance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of challenging
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026
Millions of Americans are gearing up for a challenging allergy season in 2026, with periods of high pollen forecast to hit within weeks.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
The influx of visitors to coastal stretches of central Florida, while challenging for traffic, is a major boost for the local economy.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for challenging
Adjective
And sometimes unravelling these correlations can be challenging.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 31 Mar. 2026
Millions of Americans are gearing up for a challenging allergy season in 2026, with periods of high pollen forecast to hit within weeks.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Pentagon’s firing of two dozen admirals and generals over the past year has made some wary of challenging the president’s ambitions.
—Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 1 Apr. 2026
The influx of visitors to coastal stretches of central Florida, while challenging for traffic, is a major boost for the local economy.
—Denise Chow, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for challenging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenging
Adjective
-
Christie acknowledged that the Kings were in a difficult position given their recent schedule injury situation.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Even putting the tank on the ice was more difficult this year.—
Spencer Wilson,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The right answer, if there is one, has to be more demanding.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This high-capacity version ensures your most demanding creative assets are always instantly accessible, cementing its status as a premier, long-term investment for any mobile professional.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Meanwhile, Pattinson is like a manic roller coaster on screen, increasingly off the rails as the weight of Emma’s reveal has Charlie questioning everything and reacting badly to the situation.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The leaders of the Senate committee that oversees the FCC are questioning how the agency gave approval to the Nexstar–Tegna transaction, the massive broadcast station merger that already has been paused by a federal court.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Months after a daring hunger strike failed to pause development of Anthropic’s AI Claude, protestors have rallied around the company’s headquarters to call for a complete stop to AI development.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
26 Mar. 2026
-
At the beginning of the daring raid, a series of US strikes hit targets across Venezuela.—
Michael Rios,
CNN Money,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of requiring county behavioral health departments to get involved directly, the bill proposes that such requests be added to the existing CARE Court process.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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But requiring all 3- or 4-year-olds to participate in a public preschool program or pretending that child care will produce better outcomes for all children doesn’t hold up to the data.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The judge assigned to Amin’s case was Iman Afshari, known in Tehran for his tough sentences—a reputation that led the European Union to place him on a blacklist, in January, for human-rights abuses.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Two sisters in Big Bear are facing one of the toughest moments in their lives.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are at least three more pending investigations that are still outstanding, according to OSHA’s website, and Boring Company is currently contesting eight citations it was issued regarding chemical burns in 2024.—
Jessica Mathews,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
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Sixteen European sides are contesting the UEFA matches and six teams from around the world are taking part in the inter-confederation fixtures.—
Will Jeanes,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Edwards went in needing to play in every remaining Wolves game to meet the NBA's 65-game minimum for eligibility for all-NBA consideration.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Traoré led the Nets with 17 points and six assists, controlling the game without needing to overcomplicate it.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Challenging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenging. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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