1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
an exceptionally challenging brainteaser
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in demanding
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
a challenging test designed to whittle down the number of contestants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in questioning
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 requiring
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
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Recent Examples of challenging
JSTOR Daily, 27 Oct. 2025
Game 2 set for Yankee Stadium When the series shifts to New York on Saturday, Charlotte will confront one of MLS’s most challenging venues.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Rip currents are formidable natural forces, but knowing how to react can significantly increase your chances of safely navigating these challenging waters.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for challenging
Adjective
Preserving the relationship without being pressured into making a loan was more challenging.
—JSTOR Daily, 27 Oct. 2025
Game 2 set for Yankee Stadium When the series shifts to New York on Saturday, Charlotte will confront one of MLS’s most challenging venues.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Chatbots are challenging the dominance of online search, and are often used to troubleshoot potential problems in computer code.
—Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 28 Oct. 2025
Rip currents are formidable natural forces, but knowing how to react can significantly increase your chances of safely navigating these challenging waters.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for challenging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenging
Adjective
-
One of the world’s most persistent waste problems, plastics are durable and difficult to recycle.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Oct. 2025
-
But grass is difficult to digest for the mammal.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
One of the tale’s bitterest ironies is that Victor will become a more demanding, more neglectful, and vastly more destructive father figure than Leopold ever was.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Check-in bullies are the most demanding hotel guests.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Critics are still questioning his tactics, his fundraising, and the contents of an in-progress review of the party’s 2024 election mistakes.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
31 Oct. 2025
-
In his remarks, Moss cast doubt on the credibility of that defense, repeatedly questioning the quick-twitch decision to demand that NPR no longer run the distribution system after such a longstanding arrangement.—
NPR,
NPR,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Photos shared by the brand Seventy One Gin — which was serving up golden martinis throughout the evening — showed the mom-of-four rocking two daring outfits for the occasion.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
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Continue reading … AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on daring discoveries and classic coffee.—
,
FOXNews.com,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The lightweight conveyance system is designed to rapidly deploy bare optical fiber into complex, highly deviated, or horizontal wells without requiring conventional pump-down or tractor-assisted operations.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Oct. 2025
-
Introverts’ brains are more responsive to dopamine, requiring much less of it to trigger a big response.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Without a consolidation of that vote in the final stretch, Mamdani appears tough to beat.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With Partition, this dynamic became a forum for contesting powers and prestige at the communal and national levels.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
-
In the 53rd minute, Aaronson and Max Kilman were contesting the ball in the north-east corner of the stadium.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Similarly, early and frequent users of cannabis had an 86% higher chance of needing care for physical health needs.—
NPR,
NPR,
29 Oct. 2025
-
This development marks a promising leap forward in function and form for individuals relying on prosthetic hands, and for robots needing versatile yet simple manipulators.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Challenging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenging. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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