challenging 1 of 2

adjective

ˈcha-lən-jiŋ How to pronounce challenging (audio)
Definition of challengingnext
1
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort an exceptionally challenging brainteaser

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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

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challenging

2 of 2

verb

present participle of challenge
1
as in questioning
to demand proof of the truth or rightness of don't hesitate to challenge any statement that generalizes about people

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2
as in daring
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 requiring
to have as a requirement having to put up with an overbearing boss challenges forbearance

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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 challenging
Adjective
There are several other teams teetering on the edge of being sellers and for those teams, the next two weeks will determine their deadline course, making this season more challenging than most for front offices looking to make trades. — Jim Bowden, New York Times, 17 July 2026 His 15-point first half Thursday included two 3’s, a high-degree-of-difficulty turnaround jumper and another challenging jumper. — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2026
Verb
For thrill-seekers, adventure tours, such as the Hall Crawl or Guts and Glory, offer hands-on spelunking experiences through muddy passages and challenging climbs. — Korrin Bishop, Southern Living, 18 July 2026 Compliments can be especially challenging for people who struggle with self-esteem, says Xuan Zhao, a behavioral scientist. — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 18 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for challenging
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenging
  1. difficult
  2. demanding
  3. questioning
  4. daring
  5. requiring
  6. tough
  7. contesting
  8. needing
Adjective
  • Unlike dogs, they cannot simply be taken on longer walks, often resist dietary changes, and can be difficult to medicate consistently, making GLP-1 therapies potentially attractive if clinical trials prove successful.
    — Elsa Ohlen,Carolin Roth, CNBC, 18 July 2026
  • Their stories recount the devastation to homes and businesses, life in temporary shelters, and the difficult process of rebuilding or relocating.
    — Michelle Oliva-Espinosa, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Those efforts produced significant performance and efficiency gains for several of the laboratory’s most demanding applications.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026
  • Yzerman was known as a demanding, intimidating general manager who could grind players in negotiations.
    — Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026
Definition of demanding
Verb
  • Granger chastised Abernethy in a series of emails, then took her concerns to Oberhelman, questioning his decision to assign her operations duties for the entire program in addition to her job coaching the divers.
    — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 23 July 2026
  • As details of the deal emerged Wednesday, opposition on Capitol Hill and elsewhere began to snowball, with Republicans and Democrats both questioning the wisdom of the agreement.
    — Aamer Madhani, Fortune, 23 July 2026
Definition of questioning
Verb
  • But after taking the lead, England turned strangely conservative, dropping all 11 players behind the ball at times, daring Argentina to score.
    — Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2026
  • Alysa Liu graced the red carpet at the 2026 ESPY Awards in New York, sporting a daring ensemble.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
Definition of daring
Verb
  • The department is citing Florida laws requiring adherence to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and protecting private student information.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
  • According to Forbes contributor Jamie Gutfreund, many companies still approach YouTube primarily as a place to purchase advertising rather than as an entertainment platform requiring its own creative expertise.
    — Jacqueline Jevtich, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of requiring
Adjective
  • There were tough conversations between Naylor and Cleveland’s coaches and front office.
    — Zack Meisel, New York Times, 24 July 2026
  • Villegas, after a tough primary election battle against Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, has roughly $572,000.
    — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of tough
Verb
  • Scott Peterson's attorney appeals Scott's automatic appeal was submitted to the California Supreme Court on July 5, accompanied by a 423-page brief document from Scott's attorney, contesting the trial had been unfair.
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 17 July 2026
  • The city of Syracuse and county of Onondaga are contesting Broadwater’s claims.
    — ProPublica, ProPublica, 14 July 2026
Definition of contesting
Verb
  • After a strong start to the tournament, the reigning champions teetered on the brink of elimination throughout the knockout stage, trailing Egypt and England until the closing stages, needing extra time to overcome Cape Verde and Switzerland.
    — Oliver Kay, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • Running through August 9, the deals are now officially open to everyone, meaning shoppers can access some of the biggest markdowns of the season without needing Nordstrom cardholder status.
    — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 20 July 2026
Definition of needing

Browse Nearby Words

challenges
challenging
chamber
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Cite this Entry

“Challenging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenging. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of challenging for Spanish Speakers

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