EN

Synonyms for challenging

  • adjective

Most common

difficult tough intriguing stimulating demanding ambitious hurdlesome

Synonyms by meaning

Adjective

1. Difficult — difficult, hard to do

difficult, tough, hard, rough

2. Stimulating

stimulating, intriguing, provocative, thought-provoking

Other

demanding, ambitious, hurdlesome

Antonyms

easy, unchallenging, simple

All antonyms of challenging →

Definitions

  1. adj. 1

    Difficult, hard to do.

Example sentences

  • difficult Explain to him the difficult situation you are in.
  • tough Maybe it wouldn't be tough to do that by yourself.
  • intriguing What's the most intriguing local legend you've heard?
  • stimulating Cities are stimulating, but also stressful places.
  • demanding Opposition politicians are demanding resignations.
  • ambitious His next production was a very ambitious musical.

Popularity over time

Word1850 → 2019Trend
challengingrising
difficultsteady
toughrising
intriguingrising
stimulatingfalling
demandingrising

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters
hard1
5 letters
tough1, rough1
9 letters
difficult3, demanding3, ambitious3
10 letters
intriguing3, hurdlesome
11 letters
stimulating4, provocative4

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (difficult3 = 3 syllables).