challenge 1 of 2

challenge

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verb

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as in to dare
to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat I challenge you to swim to the other side of the pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of challenge
Noun
The dust-up stems back to the Spanish singer’s recent appearance on the New York Times’ Popcast, where she was asked about singing in about 13 different languages one her new album Lux and the challenges of communicating with a global audience. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025 Carollo’s candidacy already faces a challenge. Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in two suits brought by small businesses challenging the president's authority to impose tariffs, the very foundation of his aggressive trade policy. Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025 The climate of fear would make organizing any type of resistance challenging even if most of the people who once led protests in Venezuela hadn’t left. Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for challenge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenge
Noun
  • No one in an NFL building is going to raise an objection when team brass decides to honor team ownership.
    Mike Sando, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
  • This was an objection that was raised in the ancient world, and that persisted through the time of Galileo.
    Big Think, Big Think, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • For a writer of a book that’s politically informed and deals with culture and history, this creates a big problem.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • That solves a lot of problems, a lot of ills of society.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Sarah Moore, executive director of the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, questioned the legality of using American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Naysayers on both sides attack, question Newsom's effectiveness Newsom's White House ambitions remain just that, for now.
    Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, these rather daring verses were composed by a Hieronymite nun for her beloved vicereine, the wife of the Spanish king’s representative in New Spain.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
  • One way Flores capitalized was by sending LB Eric Wilson at Jahmyr Gibbs routinely, daring him to pick up blitzes.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Power politics on the issue of affordability require careful strategizing of the politics of power.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Continuous or not, the current route to reaching AGI requires what would be the largest infrastructure build in history.
    Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Excellence will become the expectation across government, not the exception.
    TIME Video, Time, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The only exception is if the registration deadline falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, according to the Secretary of State website.
    Mariyam Muhammad, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • To compound matters, West Ham’s forthcoming games against Newcastle United (H), Burnley (H), Bournemouth (A), Liverpool (H), Manchester United (A), Brighton (A), Aston Villa (H) and Manchester City (A).
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • That fingerprint was sufficient enough to qualify for a warrant to search the rest of the Norman home, where tests of the pipes leading out of the washing machine revealed some matter containing Beryl’s DNA.
    Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • In November 2026, 33 seats will be contested, 20 of which are currently held by Republicans and 13 by Democrats.
    Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Queens went 6-for-30 (20%) from deep and Winthrop wasn’t much better at 8-for-25 (32%), which meant most of the game was contested the old-fashioned way, via drives and rebounding and tough defense.
    Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Challenge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenge. Accessed 7 Nov. 2025.

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