1
as in objections
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
there were no serious challenges to the legislative bill, so it passed easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in problems
something that requires thought and skill for resolution
the many challenges facing developing countries in the 21st century
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in questions
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 requires
to have as a requirement
having to put up with an overbearing boss challenges forbearance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of challenges
Domi Suskova, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
The playoffs will be difficult, but Birdville basketball has already faced far greater challenges off the court.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
In a breakthrough, the team addressed challenges in photocatalytic water splitting, a method for producing clean hydrogen.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Each teams gets two challenges and retains their challenges if a call is overturned.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
That meant creating 16 bathrooms where none existed, installing underfloor heating throughout, and narrowing the swimming pool—a 1950s addition by the former mayor of Seville, a previous owner—out of respect for Andalusia's drought challenges.
—Ryan Craggs, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
While self-driving cabs aren’t new, London’s ancient road layout and busy streetscapes could pose special challenges for the technology.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
After public outcry and legal challenges, some of those positions were later reinstated.
—Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
The transition to eCourts has presented serious challenges that directly impact the lives of North Carolinians.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
Pamela Avila, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
In the video, one Palestinian insults Levi and another challenges him to shoot.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Public shake-ups are possible as the vibrant Sun in your 7th House of Partnership challenges individualistic Uranus in your 10th House of Career.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
This type of immersive education challenges students to engage with conflict not as passive observers but as active participants, working alongside those directly impacted by conflict to understand their experiences and gain firsthand knowledge of the complexities involved in sustaining peace.
—David Dumke, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
However, Jack challenges his leadership and begins to draw other boys away, sending them on a course from hope to tragedy.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Look for anything that challenges you.
—Amanda Gardner, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
The film challenges social conventions around age-gap relationships by featuring a woman as the older partner, at a time when such relationships were discouraged, despite men historically having age gap relationships normalized.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
This superman-type exercise challenges contralateral stability, coordination, and core muscles generally.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
Europe has struggled to unite to meet the challenges of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in the last four years.
—Domi Suskova, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
The playoffs will be difficult, but Birdville basketball has already faced far greater challenges off the court.
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Feb. 2026
In a breakthrough, the team addressed challenges in photocatalytic water splitting, a method for producing clean hydrogen.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 23 Feb. 2026
Each teams gets two challenges and retains their challenges if a call is overturned.
—Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
That meant creating 16 bathrooms where none existed, installing underfloor heating throughout, and narrowing the swimming pool—a 1950s addition by the former mayor of Seville, a previous owner—out of respect for Andalusia's drought challenges.
—Ryan Craggs, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2026
While self-driving cabs aren’t new, London’s ancient road layout and busy streetscapes could pose special challenges for the technology.
—Kelvin Chan, Fortune, 23 Feb. 2026
After public outcry and legal challenges, some of those positions were later reinstated.
—Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
The transition to eCourts has presented serious challenges that directly impact the lives of North Carolinians.
—Charlotte Observer, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
Pippa challenges Wrigley on why the guys never hold Stephen accountable.
—Pamela Avila, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026
In the video, one Palestinian insults Levi and another challenges him to shoot.
—Sam Metz, Los Angeles Times, 16 Feb. 2026
Public shake-ups are possible as the vibrant Sun in your 7th House of Partnership challenges individualistic Uranus in your 10th House of Career.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
This type of immersive education challenges students to engage with conflict not as passive observers but as active participants, working alongside those directly impacted by conflict to understand their experiences and gain firsthand knowledge of the complexities involved in sustaining peace.
—David Dumke, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
However, Jack challenges his leadership and begins to draw other boys away, sending them on a course from hope to tragedy.
—Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2026
Look for anything that challenges you.
—Amanda Gardner, Martha Stewart, 8 Feb. 2026
The film challenges social conventions around age-gap relationships by featuring a woman as the older partner, at a time when such relationships were discouraged, despite men historically having age gap relationships normalized.
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
This superman-type exercise challenges contralateral stability, coordination, and core muscles generally.
—Jakob Roze, Health, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenges
Noun
-
Top Army officials, over Hegseth’s objections, decided to keep Butler in the promotion queue during the past year.—
Missy Ryan,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Some pointed to the modern-day resurgence of antisemitism as justification for their objections.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The announcement was made Wednesday at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where leading tech executives, government officials and AI researchers are debating how to use AI to solve real-world problems.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The government also stopped collecting and reporting crucial survey findings on transgender students — data that have shown higher rates of depression, drug use, bullying and other problems.—
Mike Stobbe,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Market questions Another important factor has been a wobbly stock market this year, Friday’s massive rally notwithstanding.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The petition, by Miami-Dade County resident Elizabeth Pines and Broward County resident Eugene Pettis, also questions DeSantis’ directive to Secretary of State Cord Byrd, which included a delay in Congressional qualifying from the week of April 20 to June 8 to June 12.—
Jim Turner,
Miami Herald,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Is anything more engaging than a good murder mystery—one that dares you to guess who did it, and why?—
Boris Kachka,
The Atlantic,
13 Feb. 2026
-
And anyone who dares to peek behind the curtain—journalists, dissident professors, activists, even, bizarrely, the Iranian president himself—becomes a threat to the regime.—
Azadeh Moaveni,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That also requires a level of play that the Aztecs (18-8, 12-4) have not approached in the last two games.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
-
If a student’s name appears in both district and private-school enrollment, state law requires the student’s funding be frozen to prevent duplication.—
Natalie La Roche Pietri,
Miami Herald,
21 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Those exceptions include time spent playing a different sport on a professional level, military service, religious missionary work and playing sports during a post-graduate year after high school.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
22 Feb. 2026
-
California has a number of laws aimed at protecting children’s data privacy, but those laws have exceptions that allow many tech companies to continue packaging and selling students’ personal information.—
Adam Echelman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
One of the defendants, Benjamin Song, a 32-year-old former Marine Corps reservist who associates described to authorities as a cult-like ringleader who opposes the government on immigration enforcement and on other matters, shot Alvarado Police Department Lt.—
Emerson Clarridge
Updated February 17,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The person asked to have their name withheld because they were not authorized to speak to the media about administrative matters.—
Jaweed Kaleem,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The defense disputes that narrative, arguing the state's case lacks solid evidence.—
Chelsea Jones,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Larry Harnisch, a former Los Angeles Times copy editor and writer who has spent 30 years investigating the Black Dahlia murder, strongly disputes the contention that the podcasters’ suspect killed Short.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Challenges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenges. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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