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challenge 1 of 2

noun

Definition of challengenext
1
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent there were no serious challenges to the legislative bill, so it passed easily

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in problem
something that requires thought and skill for resolution the many challenges facing developing countries in the 21st century

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

challenge

2 of 2

verb

ˈcha-lənj How to pronounce challenge (audio)
1
as in to question
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of don't hesitate to challenge any statement that generalizes about people

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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3
as in to require
to have as a requirement having to put up with an overbearing boss challenges forbearance

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 court sided with the Democrats in a challenge to California’s new map. — Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 There will not—and should not—be a one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges of supplying this education. — Sian Leah Beilock, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
Verb
Manes challenged the government’s account of the shooting, saying the evidence gathered by his team thus far does not match official statements. — Laura Rodríguez Presa, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2026 Their efforts challenged Arsenal and, eventually, made their comeback feel all the more significant. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for challenge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenge
  1. objection
  2. problem
  3. question
  4. dare
  5. need
  6. exception
  7. matter
  8. contest
Noun
  • Plan for the content of the meeting, including the objections, concerns and reservations people may bring.
    — Inga Bielińska, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The other objection, pressed by organized labor, is that collective bargaining should fix all of this.
    — Lamell J. McMorris, Sportico.com, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of objection
Noun
  • The group claims that HIV treatment has improved in the decades since the military initially categorized HIV as a health problem that disqualifies someone from enlistment.
    — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Creating a digital asset is one problem; keeping it safe is another.
    — Sergey Stopnevich, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of problem
Verb
  • Leclerc was fifth and 87 points down Ahead of Monza, some observers were already questioning whether Ferrari should start prioritizing its lead driver to mount a championship challenge.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In another critical post on X, the comedian questioned Sheeran’s decision to bring Macklemore on as an opening act.
    — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of question
Verb
  • Everyone’s voice is valued, standards have risen on and off the field, and all matches are monitored and recorded in such a way that Dean would not have dared to try to play the class clown.
    — Graham Scott, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Yell, scream, jeer, cry, wail, plead—but don’t dare do it while the players are still hitting the ball.
    — Corey Seymour, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of dare
Verb
  • Chip manufacturers need equipment to deliver extremely high levels of precision, repeatability and reliability while operating continuously in production environments.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • All John needs to do is recite the Green Lanterns oath the next time Hal hands him his ring for training.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of need
Noun
  • To maintain eligibility, households consisting entirely of full-time students may be required to provide documentation to their property manager demonstrating that at least one of the above exceptions is met.
    — Olivia Young, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • What’s overlooked is that the Heat will have three of its next four first-round draft picks and preserved the ability to use its full $16 million midlevel exception next summer.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of exception
Noun
  • The Justice Department, Federal Trade Commission, and Canada’s Competition Bureau have worked together for decades on cross-border antitrust matters, including merger reviews and investigations into potential anticompetitive conduct.
    — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Gutman declined comment on the matter through a CBS News representative.
    — Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of matter
Verb
  • Legion targets contested airspace The system’s roots stretch back to Lockheed Martin’s earlier IRST work.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Ireland joins a growing bloc of European broadcasters, including the Netherlands, Iceland, Slovenia and Spain, using withdrawal from the continent’s biggest music spectacle as protest over Israel’s war and contest neutrality.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of contest

Browse Nearby Words

chalky
challenge
challenged
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Cite this Entry

“Challenge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenge. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on challenge

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about challenge

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