TAXING Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

taxing 1 of 2

adjective

ˈtak-siŋ

Definition of taxing

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention a very taxing workload that is taking a lot of time to finish

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

taxing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of tax

as in stretching

to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress your constant arguing is starting to tax my patience

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 taxing

Adjective

This is supposed to be a fun, quick, non-taxing race. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 The mid-series break should benefit both of them after a taxing two games. — Peter Baugh, New York Times, 6 May 2026

Verb

By restoring full expensing for equipment purchases and research and development, the law lets businesses invest in growing instead of taxing those investments. — Kent Strang, Boston Herald, 26 July 2026 The idea of taxing the rich has drawn polarizing reactions from the world’s wealthiest. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 24 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for taxing

Recent Examples of Synonyms for taxing

Adjective

Even during a challenging season, Stanek continued to showcase one of baseball's hardest fastballs with a plus slider, splitter and sweeper.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
There’s also 20-year-old Connor Zilisch, who’s had a challenging rookie season but is still one of the most prized young drivers to ever join the Cup Series.

— Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of challenging

Verb

The attacks targeted Kyiv and nine other regions, the president said, stretching from Lviv in the country's west and its border with Poland to Sumy and Kharkiv in the northeast of the country, close to the border with Russia.

— David Brennan, ABC News, 30 July 2026
The impending impact, scientists say, offers a chance to analyze the crater and plume of dust stretching several miles above the surface.

— Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 30 July 2026

Definition of stretching

Adjective

That is a demanding position to hold, and most organizations have built conditions that make holding it harder every year.

— Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
At the 2024 Monterey Historic races, he was seen driving the 250 P aggressively around the demanding Laguna Seca track.

— Howard Walker, Robb Report, 31 July 2026

Definition of demanding

Verb

February 19 – March 20 That impulse buy may be trying to solve a feeling.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026
Her doctor advised her to stop clinical hyperpigmentation treatments for her dark spots and uneven skin tone as some ingredients could be unsafe to use while trying to conceive or during pregnancy.

— Kati Chitrakorn, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of trying

Adjective

For a long time, we’ve all been told that remastering the older Super Robot Wars games was extremely difficult, due to all the licensing and other costs involved.

— Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
After three difficult years, armed groups loyal to Tehran appear to be bouncing back across the Middle East, reinforcing Iran’s leverage in its war with the US and Israel.

— Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

Definition of difficult

Verb

Christian Kirk has been out since straining a calf in Sunday’s opening session.

— Cam Inman, Mercury News, 31 July 2026
Officials insist political or academic criticism remains protected, but the decree raises unanswered questions about how hate speech will be defined and enforced, already straining relations with neighboring Brazil.

— Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of straining

Verb

Nvidia’s chips are essential to AI data centers, pushing its business to stratospheric heights.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Chawinga is busy pushing Black excellence for her own country, Malawi, by leading the nation’s women’s soccer team in its Women’s Africa Cup of Nations debut.

— PJ Green July 30, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026

Definition of pushing

Verb

Anthropic said a misconfiguration allowed Claude models to reach the internet from testing environments that were supposed to be isolated, leading to unauthorized access to three organizations’ systems.

— Reuters, NBC news, 31 July 2026
Engineers plan to integrate the system with a lunar rover before testing it on Earth and later demonstrating it on the Moon.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026

Definition of testing

Browse Nearby Words

taxiing

taxing

taxis

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Taxing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taxing. Accessed 5 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of taxing

adjective

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on taxing

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

colloquial

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes