challenging

adjective

chal·​leng·​ing ˈcha-lən-jiŋ 

1

: arousing competitive interest, thought, or action

a challenging course of study

a challenging job

2

: invitingly provocative : fascinating

a challenging personality

challenging questions

challengingly

ˈcha-lən-jiŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• arduous
• Augean
• backbreaking
• demanding
• difficult
• effortful
• exacting
• formidable
• grueling
• gruelling
• hard
• heavy
• hellacious
• herculean
• killer
• laborious
• moiling
• murderous
• pick-and-shovel
• rigorous
• rough
• rugged
• severe
• stiff
• strenuous
• sweaty
• tall
• testing
• toilsome
• tough
• uphill

Examples of challenging in a Sentence

I find the job challenging and fun.

Teaching is challenging but rewarding work.

It's a challenging book that requires careful reading.

The slope was challenging for even the most experienced climbers.

Recent Examples on the Web

The agreement comes amid a challenging period for traditional department stores, which face mounting pressure from discount chains like Walmart, fast-fashion players and e-commerce companies like Amazon. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024

However, achieving consistent scoring across different runs can be challenging. —Lukas Petersson, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024

In October of 1958, just weeks after taking delivery, Toselli drove the car to victory in Italy’s challenging Aosta-Pila hill-climb contest. —Howard Walker, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2024

Dear Reader, Feeling caught between family loyalty and your relationship with your boyfriend is a challenging position to navigate, especially during the holidays. —Lori Gottlieb, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

see challenge entry 1

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined at sense 1