Challenging
Challenging adjective - Requiring considerable physical or mental effort.
Usage example: an exceptionally challenging brainteaser
Difficult is a synonym for challenging in ambitious topic. In some cases you can use "Difficult" instead an adjective "Challenging".
Difficult
Difficult adjective - Requiring considerable physical or mental effort.
Usage example: difficult questions on the exam that required analytical thinking
Challenging is a synonym for difficult in ambitious topic. You can use "Challenging" instead an adjective "Difficult", if it concerns topics such as hard, hard to do.
Nearby Word: difficulty
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- strenuous and challenging
- strenuous and difficult
- stiff and challenging
- stiff and difficult
- demanding and challenging
- demanding and difficult
- awkward and challenging
- awkward and difficult
- heavy and challenging
- heavy and difficult
- ambitious and challenging
- ambitious and difficult
- hard and challenging
- hard and difficult
Both words in one sentence
- The song is not particularly difficult or challenging - in fact, it's relatively easy-but it's long, long, long.
Source: That One Sidequest - When asked about the unfairness of the test, Hiruma stated that he was looking for those with determination who can make it to the top, regardless of how difficult or challenging the test was.
Source: Hidden Purpose Test - The game then settles into a difficulty somewhere between challenging and difficult, but doesn't reach the maddening levels of the early game until the final dungeon.
Source: Early Game Hell
Cite this Source
Difficult and Challenging. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 13, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/challenging/difficult
Challenging & Difficult. N.p., 2016. Web. 13 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/challenging/difficult>.
Difficult or Challenging. 2016. Accessed August 13, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/challenging/difficult.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "challenging" and "difficult" have occurred on timeline