1
as in objection
a feeling or declaration of disapproval or dissent
there were no serious challenges to the legislative bill, so it passed easily
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in problem
something that requires thought and skill for resolution
the many challenges facing developing countries in the 21st century
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to question
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 to need
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 challenge
Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2025
Underlying the personal feud is Musk’s legal challenge to OpenAI, which threatens to slow the company’s efforts at a time when the race for the lead in the AI space is heating up.
—Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Susan Page, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
Collective bargaining agreements between an employer and a union representing workers outlines the rights and benefits of employees such as their pay schedule and their ability to challenge demotions or terminations.
—arkansasonline.com, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for challenge
Noun
And that was done mostly wordlessly in a drugged stupor, so that was always going to be a challenge, not to just be the boring guy falling asleep.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 10 Mar. 2025
Underlying the personal feud is Musk’s legal challenge to OpenAI, which threatens to slow the company’s efforts at a time when the race for the lead in the AI space is heating up.
—Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
More than 100 lawsuits have been filed against the Trump administration, challenging the unliteral firing of civil servants, the freezing of federal spending, the pursuit of undocumented immigrants into churches, the end of birthright citizenship and more.
—Susan Page, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2025
Collective bargaining agreements between an employer and a union representing workers outlines the rights and benefits of employees such as their pay schedule and their ability to challenge demotions or terminations.
—arkansasonline.com, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for challenge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenge
Noun
-
His nomination to become the nation’s 26th Health and Human Services Secretary was met with considerable objection from the medical community.—
Brian Niemietz,
New York Daily News,
27 Feb. 2025
-
Multiple speakers were also allowed to accuse Israel of carrying out a genocide, also with no objection from Lauber.—
Rachel Wolf,
Fox News,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
Ben Edwards, Global Marketing Leader: Specialized is all about innovation, about solving problems for riders.—
William Roberson,
Forbes,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Start shopping around for a new dishwasher before the problem gets out of hand.—
Timothy Dale,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Education Secretary Linda McMahon criticized the university for allegedly failing to protect Jewish students and questioned its eligibility for federal business contracts.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
-
To Begin Developing This Trait: Encourage your teams to question and validate their assumptions while remaining receptive to unexpected insights that emerge from their analysis.—
Ben Jones,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In August Ukraine launched a daring cross-border incursion into Kursk, in what marked the largest attack on Russian territory since World War II.—
Joanna Kozlowska,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Those daring enough to brave twisting mountain roads at the center of the island can also rent a car, available from the island's airport.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Galina says her son doesn't need to apologize to anyone.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
28 Feb. 2025
-
To make international calls, send messages, share links, images, videos and files for free, WhatsApp only needed a phone number.—
Angrej Singh,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
But each time the tariffs were slated to take effect, calls with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum kept the tariffs at bay — or provided exceptions for crucial cross-border industries, such as a one-month delay on tariffs for auto manufacturers.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
7 Mar. 2025
-
Establishments in CityPlace and Downtown Doral, however, will be barred from obtaining the special exception.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
No halfway measure, but Bove still wants to keep his hooks in the fish in case Washington chooses to resume the matter later on (and to make sure that Adams follows their directives).—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
-
Austin Cindric's $50,000 penalty is becoming a hot topic in NASCAR as drivers weighed in on the matter after the incident at the Circuit of the Americas where Cindric hooked the right rear of Ty Dillon's car.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
With Trump in the White House, the Justice Department is no longer expected to contest S.B. 4 in court.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
The New Yorker,
10 Mar. 2025
-
The courts have received more than 1,000 notices from people who tried to contest their citations, but so far no drivers have been given a chance to make their case in front of a judge.—
Clara-Sophia Daly,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Challenge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenge. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share