challenging
Americanadjective
-
offering a challenge; testing one's ability, endurance, etc.
a challenging course;
a challenging game.
-
stimulating, interesting, and thought-provoking.
a challenging suggestion.
-
provocative; intriguing.
a challenging smile.
adjective
Other Word Forms
- challengingly adverb
- nonchallenging adjective
- unchallenging adjective
Etymology
Origin of challenging
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, as a gerund; 1835–45 for sense of "testing one's ability"; challenge ( def. ), -ing 2 ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Diet and medications are known to strongly influence these microbial communities, but understanding how genetics contributes has been far more challenging.
From Science Daily
She says her misophonia is worse around people she's closest to, so Christmas is always "challenging".
From BBC
“In my mind, we were playing a long gamble on the courts challenging the executive orders, so that’s good news,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times
This resistance makes treatment extremely challenging and allows the pathogen to persist in hospital wards.
From Science Daily
He added: "It's a challenging role, but the successful candidate will spend some warm, sunny days in one of the most beautiful and exciting places in Scotland."
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
