Show me
of
Looking for synonyms for "challenging"? Browse alternatives ranked by relevance — sharper word choices for fiction, poetry, and copywriting.
(adj)
Hard, not easy, requiring much effort.
Relevance: 0%
(of material or fluid) Solid and firm.
Serving or tending to elicit a strong, often negative sentiment in another person; exasperating.
Interesting in a way that challenges one's beliefs, attitudes, or perspective.
Causing a desire to know more; mysterious.
(of a person or their character) Having or showing ambition; wanting a lot of power, honor, respect, superiority, or other distinction.
Having a manner that stimulates; serving to stimulate.
Difficult to endure; arduous.
(n)
The state of being difficult, or hard to do.
Difficult.
Making great demands in terms of quality, quantity, accuracy or other criteria; difficult to satisfy.
Posing a problem; having or suffering from problem(s):
Difficulty or trouble; hard times.
Needing or using up much energy; testing powers of endurance.
Requiring much physical effort; toilsome.
Not easily managed or handled; awkward; clumsy.
Characteristic of a burden; arduous or demanding
Hard to deal with, complicated.
Very bad or intense.
Discouraging; inspiring fear.
Dangerous, full of peril.
Imposing or constituting a physical, mental, or figurative load which can be borne only with effort; burdensome.
(in a positive sense, sometimes humorous) Eliciting respect; awe-inspiring, imposing.
(of a task) Mentally taxing.
Showing willingness to take bold risks; recklessly daring.
Boldly resisting opposition.
Needing urgent attention.
(of a material) Strong and resilient; sturdy.
Presenting a threat, posing a likely risk of harm.
Adventurous, willing to take on or look for risks; overbold.
Open or bold resistance to or disregard for authority, opposition, or power; refusing to give up.
Done with intensity or to a great degree; thorough.
Strict; binding strongly; making strict requirements; restrictive; rigid; severe
Causing trouble or anxiety.
Of a characteristic: extreme or very high or strong in degree; severe; also, excessive, towering.
(of a person) Inclined to adventure; willing to take risks; prone to embark on hazardous enterprises; daring.
Anxious, worried, careworn.
Characterized by aggression; highly combative; prone to behave in a way that involves attacking (especially if unjustly) or arguing.
(of a task) Requiring great exertion; very laborious.
Unpleasantly rough to the touch or other senses.
Difficult or convoluted.
frightening, especially in appearance.
Showing, causing, or favoring rigour/rigor; scrupulously accurate or strict; thorough.
Causing pain or distress, either physical or mental.
(proscribed) Alternative form of nerve-racking. [Intensely irritating or distressing to the nerves.]
Restless; disturbed by pain, anxiety.
Evading capture, comprehension or remembrance.
Requiring action to prevent bad consequences: urgent, pressing.
Marked by heated arguments or controversy.
Causing fear, dread, or terror.
Not smooth; uneven.
An argument or disagreement, a failure to agree.
dispute; argument
Extremely large; greatly exceeding the common size, extent, etc.
Extremely important.
Making great demands; difficult to satisfy.
Having a great deal of fine detail or complexity.
Made up of multiple parts; composite; not simple.
Being ambitious.
The act or process by which something is undermined.
Not advantageous.
Having a stimulating effect.
Dubious or ambiguous.
stimulative; serving to stimulate
Easily damaged or requiring careful handling.
Carefully attentive to details; studious; diligent in performing a process or procedure.
Fussy; particular; demanding to have things just right.
(informal, of a person) Fastidious and fussy; difficult to please; exacting, especially about details.
Dismal and gloomy, cold and forbidding.
Not conforming to rule or system; deviating from the usual or normal type.
(of a person) Strong, sturdy, well-built.
Causing a feeling of sudden excitement.
Creating or producing excitement.
Giving strength, energy and vitality; quickening; stimulating.
Pulsing with energy or activity.
(of any physical thing) Having great weight.
Refreshingly thrilling.
Effectively providing an incentive.
Requiring little skill or effort.
Providing inspiration; encouraging; stimulating.
Giving courage, confidence or hope; auspicious.
Having the ability to inspire.
The act of contradicting something by making a contrary argument, or presenting contrary evidence.
Important; weighty; not insignificant.
Lacking social skills, or uncomfortable with social interaction.
Difficult to deal with, solve, or manage. (of a problem)
Having a broad range, scope, or influence.
The act or process by which something is boosted.
(of a person) Easily offended, upset, or hurt.
Arousing or holding the attention or interest of someone.
A battle, a fight (often one in which weapons are used).
Showing promise, and likely to develop in a desirable fashion.
(adv)
Up a slope, towards higher ground.
(archaic) A requirement.
Of a person: having obtained worldly experience, and lacking naiveté; cosmopolitan, worldly-wise.
The action of asking questions; a survey; an inquiry.
Giving or resulting in reward or satisfaction.