Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
💪 Difficult 🧠 Thought-provoking 😏 Provocative
challenging

challenging

24 4.2
Making you think deeply and question your ideas
  • adjective
  • /ˈtʃælɪndʒɪŋ/
translation icon : estimulante
  • Aptitudes may emerge as a result of exposure to high-level, challenging activities in an area of interest.
  • intellectually challenging
  • challenging texts
  • challenging task

You should do challenging problems and then analyse them.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • The math problem was surprisingly challenging, requiring us to think creatively to find a solution.

  • What was the most challenging part of writing this book?

  • There will always be something new, interesting, and challenging to think about.

    Academic text (1998)

  • If students are engaged in challenging activities that interest them, they can learn anything.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The work itself always carries the potential to reveal new, challenging research questions.

    Academic text (1994)

  • Purpose: Listening in noisy situations is a challenging experience for many older adults.

    Academic text (2011)

  • At the recorder center, they worked on two new folk songs with challenging rhythms.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Meaningful, intellectually challenging work was appreciated and contributed to students' good feelings about being at George Mason.

    Academic text (2013)

  • Many students find this novel challenging because it presents complex themes and ideas to consider.

  • The documentary posed challenging questions about society that made viewers reflect on their values.

Synonyms

provocative
vschallenging
112 6.7

Causes a strong reaction, for example anger or lively talk

focuses on intellectual interest and deep reconsideration rather than strong emotion
thought-provoking
vschallenging
28 5.1

Making you think deeply about something

encourages changing earlier views rather than just careful reflection

Antonyms

simple
∞ 1.0

Easy to understand or do

uninspiring
7 3.5

Not interesting or exciting

How Stimulating

mind-bending
  • Informal
4 8.6
challenging
24 4.2
stimulating
1 3.9
interesting
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

challenging positive
challenger comparative
challengest superlative

Morphology

challenging = challenge (semi-transparent) = challenge + ing

Formally 'challenge' + '-ing' is clear, but the sense 'stimulating thought' shifts from the basic 'difficulty' sense and may not be fully predictable for some learners.

Etymology

Challenging comes from the older verb challenge, which meant 'to question' or 'call someone out'. So when something is intellectually challenging, it 'questions' your ideas and makes you think more deeply.