challenges 1 of 2

noun

plural of challenge
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

challenges

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of challenge
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
as in dares
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
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

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 challenges
Noun
Ewing attempted to dispute the call, but the Mets were out of ABS challenges. — Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026 The results of the study, though limited to the Lassen and Harvey wolf packs during a several-month period, underscore the challenges of people coexisting with wolves. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 Yet, for organizations navigating financial, operational and staffing challenges, these periods of transition can easily become interruptions rather than opportunities. — Leslie Anderson, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 July 2026 Sarah Kozlowski, senior vice president of program strategies at the Council of Fashion Designers of America, said the coalition recognizes that no single market can solve fashion’s sustainability challenges alone. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 9 July 2026 The challenges this year are rare as there has been no primary against a sitting Connecticut governor since Democrat Ella Grasso won in 1978. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026 Born This Way, produced by Bunim/Murray Productions, debuted on A&E in 2015 and quickly won over critics and audiences with its honest and empathetic portrayals of the challenges and achievements of seven adults with Down syndrome. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 9 July 2026 That poses creative challenges, but also a lot of opportunities. — Josh Weiss, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 While gray carpet is often praised for its versatility, its undertones can pose challenges, and some paint colors just don't fit. — Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 July 2026
Verb
Ohio’s governor’s seat tilted toward the Democratic Party’s favor, as Republican gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy challenges a rival with broad name recognition. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 10 July 2026 That challenges the earlier idea that Homo floresiensis organized and equipped themselves well enough to bring down something as large as a Stegodon. — ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026 Still, relationship tension could rise if someone interrupts your momentum or challenges your approach. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026 The exhibition also challenges the way trans people, especially Black trans people and trans people of color, are often represented. — Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026 The workforce challenges mark the latest hurdle for chipmakers seeking to expand their manufacturing footprint in the US and reverse the migration of production capacity to Asia that unfolded decades ago. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 So what happens if a Woodbridge football player challenges her to a pull-up contest? — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026 Connections is a free daily New York Times game that challenges you to arrange a grid of 16 words, phrases or symbols into four groups. — Kris Holt, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 For example, a free kick should be awarded in such circumstances if an offside player blocks an opponent’s view of the ball, challenges an opponent for the ball, or tries to play it but misses. — Graham Scott, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenges
  1. objections
  2. problems
  3. questions
  4. dares
  5. needs
  6. exceptions
  7. matters
  8. disputes
Noun
  • News cameras will be allowed to record and broadcast much of the hearing, the judge ruled last week over the objections of Robinson’s attorneys.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • In the letter reviewed by the Miami Herald, Persad-Bissessar said her objections were neither personal nor political.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of objections
Noun
  • Pyrotechnics set off at home are even more likely to trigger cardiovascular problems, the American Lung Assn.
    — Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • Some people have to remove bird feeders during the summer because of problems with bears, raccoons, and other wild animals.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 July 2026
Definition of problems
Verb
  • Semiconductor stocks are experiencing a sharp downturn, wiping out over a trillion dollars in market value, as Wall Street questions the sustainability of record AI capital spending.
    — Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
  • While the morning may feel personal — especially if someone questions your judgment, appearance or direction — avoid treating their feedback (or silence) as rejection.
    — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026
Definition of questions
Verb
  • It was launched into a highly radioactive patch of low-Earth orbit where almost nothing else dares to fly.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
  • It’s described that a powerful and surprisingly funny story about an unlikely community that dares to take on one of the largest institutions in the nation.
    — Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 8 July 2026
Definition of dares
Verb
  • For a stable, repo-local script, that critique holds, and wrapping every small command in a gateway adds surface area no one needs.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Despite the crisis, the Cuban government continues construction of even more hotels that the country seemingly no longer needs.
    — Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
Definition of needs
Noun
  • Disney’s live-action remakes have largely been box-office boons for the company, with a few exceptions.
    — Samantha Masunaga, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Those exceptions apply to hunting, fishing, trapping, and livestock husbandry.
    — Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 9 July 2026
Definition of exceptions
Noun
  • So the Heat are confident and Giannis is confident, which is what matters.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
  • Skeptic count matters because venture capital has priced these labs at unprecedented multiples.
    — Josipa Majic Predin, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of matters
Verb
  • The company disputes this, and the judge overseeing the case found that the statute of limitations for those claims had passed.
    — Claire Rush, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Tesla disputes account that self-driving system caused crash Tesla has disputed claims that the vehicle's self-driving system was responsible for the collision.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
Definition of disputes

Browse Nearby Words

challengers
challenges
challenging
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Challenges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenges. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on challenges

Nglish: Translation of challenges for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of xeric

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All