Synonyms of challenges

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

• objections
• exceptions
• complaints
• questions
• difficulties
• protests
• criticisms
• demurrers
• expostulations
• remonstrances
• stinks
• doubts
• demurrals
• fusses
• disputes
• suspicions
• demurs
• qualms
• misgivings
• kicks
• uncertainties
• misunderstandings
• skepticism
• squabbles
• compunctions
• quibbles
• scruples
• dissents
• arguments
• quarrels
• debates
• conflicts
• rebellions
• reluctances
• censures
• statics
• mistrust
• distrust
• cavils
• disobediences
• defiances
• reservations
• niggles
• hassles
• misdoubts
• indeterminations
• dubitations
• dubieties
• incertitudes

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sanctions
• approvals
• agreements
• acceptances
• assents
• acquiescences
• compliances
• obediences

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

• problems
• matters
• issues
• troubles
• cases
• questions
• nuts
• dilemmas
• predicaments
• quandaries
• knots
• pitfalls
• conundrums
• puzzles
• mysteries
• hot waters
• toughies
• riddles
• quagmires
• corners
• jams
• glitches
• snags
• fixes
• pickles
• cruxes
• enigmas
• holes
• puzzlements
• mires
• spots
• Gordian knots
• hitches
• sticky wickets
• catches
• brainteasers
• stumpers
• posers
• catch-22's

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• solutions
• answers
• silver bullets
• magic bullets
• panaceas
• cure-alls

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

• questions
• disputes
• contests
• doubts
• queries
• calls in question
• protests
• oppugns
• impeaches
• objects (to)
• resists
• kicks (about)
• opposes
• mistrusts
• fights
• combats

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• believes
• accepts
• embraces
• supports
• swallows
• defends
• backs
• advocates
• champions
• promotes
• endures
• tolerates
• abides
• stomachs

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

• dares
• confronts
• stumps
• defies
• faces
• braves
• breasts
• outbraves
• brazens
• outfaces
• beards

3

as in requires

to have as a requirement

having to put up with an overbearing boss challenges forbearance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• requires
• needs
• demands
• wants
• takes
• claims
• involves
• necessitates
• calls for
• warrants
• entails
• bears
• asks
• begs
• lacks
• cries (for)
• hurts (for)
• clamors (for)
• insists
• stipulates
• commands
• quests
• presses
• exacts
• enjoins

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• has
• holds
• possesses
• owns

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of challenges

Noun

That's important because ballot secrecy is a fundamental right under the state constitution and violations could create an opening for legal challenges. — Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2026

This is one of the most consequential challenges of accessible genomic interpretations. — Euan Ashley, STAT, 1 Oct. 2026

Moscow, meanwhile, is pressing its advantage before Ukraine comes up with an answer to the latest challenges. — Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026

The war has posed challenges for the Pentagon with both ship maintenance and troop morale. — Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

The Congressional Black Caucus has been sensitive to the prospect of challenges to its members, like Waters, who serve as committee leaders. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 1 Oct. 2026

More often than not, space throws up more challenges than early movers expect. — Peter Hall, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2026

The challenges that the rest of the contestants will face as the season continues include a supply load retrieval while suspended 300 feet above the jungle floor, chemical gassing and a claustrophobic, high-pressure search of an underground bunker. — Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026

In this final stretch, Ryan said, one of the biggest practical challenges has been competing with data centers for skilled union electricians, about 200 of whom are working on the site today. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Verb

Zahir Islam, PhD, a physicist at ANL, and co-author of the study, said the finding challenges a common assumption in microelectronics that the substrate beneath a thin film simply acts as a passive support. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026

Jankowski’s Crying for the March of Humanity challenges this distinction by remaking an entire episode of the Mexican telenovela, La que no podía amar (The One Who Couldn’t Love, 2011), replacing all 40-some-minutes of dialogue with crying. — Damaly Gonzalez, ARTnews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Right Livelihood said her work challenges the control that a small number of powerful companies exercise over AI and exposes harms that AI systems are already causing, particularly to communities facing discrimination and exclusion. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026

The Pentagon explicitly identified those militias as one of the security challenges Baghdad will now be expected to confront. — Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Bureaucracy, challenges securing visas, and language barriers also add friction. — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

Another perspective challenges the article’s implication that Latino men should vote as a unified anti-Trump bloc. — Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026

Fight over her heart condition The government also directly challenges Flores’ medical justification for release. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2026

Turnaround challenges Adding to these geopolitical pressures, over which Boeing has little control, the company is still working on turning things around internally after years of mismanagement. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026