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

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words
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 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
The arrival of Papotta, who started as an assistant at Viewpoint in 2022, coincided with the steady rise of the program, which at the time had fallen on challenging times. — Ethan Hanson, Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026 Having a low credit score can make buying a home more challenging. — Deane Biermeier, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
Should Landmarks greenlight the church’s demolition, Hirshman said an Article 78 lawsuit would be filed, challenging the decision. — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026 By using both ongoing passive monitoring and active tracking, the company aims to improve its ability to detect and track underwater threats in challenging maritime environments. — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 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
  • The shortcomings of Usman and Dvalishvili, future Hall of Famers, only point to how difficult the historic mark was to reach.
    — Mark Puleo, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The Teamsters have been enthusiastically endorsing the bill specifically because, while 40-something employers would be difficult to collectively bargain against, DSP workers would be much easier to organize once within Amazon.
    — Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of difficult
Adjective
  • Know the difference between demanding and destructive leadership.
    — Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Each additional layer makes the decision more realistic, but also more computationally demanding.
    — Carsten Polenz, Fortune, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of demanding
Verb
  • That includes checking a student's phone records and social media posts, going door to door at the student's dorm and questioning school staff and emergency contacts.
    — Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • This astonishing gap left competitive automakers and Internet armchair critics questioning whether the Mustang GTD Competition was on street-legal rubber.
    — Joel Feder, The Drive, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of questioning
Verb
  • From a classic approach to daring mixes, polka dots can work with anyone’s personal style.
    — Ángela Belda, Glamour, 14 Aug. 2026
  • As played by Kate and Rooney Mara, in total sync, the driven, single-minded Jean and Joan become classic Herzogian outsiders, like Kaspar Hauser or Fitzcarraldo, daring to transcend the limitations of everyday living and language.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of daring
Verb
  • States however, have stepped in to regulate what banks do with that interest, with several states requiring that a portion of the interest generated from mortgage escrow accounts be returned to the homeowner paying into the account.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The park was scheduled to open last year, but was delayed when winter rains caused two major landslides along its cliffs, requiring significant shoring up to keep an emergency access route open.
    — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of requiring
Adjective
  • Coventry, for example, face Manchester City away in Gameweek Three, while some of the teams worth targeting early like Manchester United, Chelsea and Sunderland have tougher fixtures in Gameweeks Three or Four.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • This summer has seen a confluence of challenges, including excessive heat that allows food contamination to grow and a pathogen that’s particularly tough to pin down.
    — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of tough
Verb
  • But Lineage officials are contesting the date of the mayor’s deadline, arguing that the company still has another week to complete the cleanup.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • And similar figures to those contesting power after Stalin’s death will likely be the key players during the window between Putin’s departure from the political scene and the formal election to crown a new apex executive that follows.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of contesting
Verb
  • That grief may be tied to major losses, such as no longer being able to travel or work, as well as quieter daily changes like needing more sleep or being unable to walk as far as before.
    — Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Ricky Pearsall is done for the season after swelling in his right knee led to needing surgery to reconstruct his PCL.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of needing

Browse Nearby Words

challenges
challenging
chamber
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Challenging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenging. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on challenging

Nglish: Translation of challenging 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All