challenging
Not at all easy
Challenging describes something that tests your abilities or demands significant effort: a challenging hike, a challenging exam.
The word carries a positive connotation—challenges are difficult but surmountable, even rewarding.
To call work challenging is to frame difficulty as opportunity rather than obstacle.
A challenging person or behavior is one that provokes or defies: She found his attitude challenging.
Demanding strenuous effort
- exactingDemanding great care
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
- taxingRequiring great effort
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
rigorous · formidable · daunting · tough · laborious · onerous · burdensome · exhausting
Having many interconnected parts
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- thought-provokingPrompting serious reflection
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
mind-bending · knotty · thorny · nuanced · abstract · cryptic · enigmatic · paradoxical
Inclined toward hostile encounters
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- controversialCausing public dispute
- defiantOpenly resisting control
- boldCourageous and daring
audacious · questioning · disputing · dissenting · oppositional · contrarian · rebellious · subversive
Increase in size
- fulfillmentState of achieved purpose
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
- satisfactionState of fulfilled desires
self-improvement · breakthrough · milestone · progress · mastery · empowerment · resilience · perseverance
Obstruction preventing passage
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- roadblockObstruction across a road
stumbling-block · setback · constraint · limitation · bottleneck · snag · difficulty · handicap
arduous
Demanding strenuous effort
strenuous · rigorous · formidable · daunting · tough · laborious · onerous · burdensome · exhausting · relentless
complex
Having many interconnected parts
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- thought-provokingPrompting serious reflection
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
perplexing · mind-bending · knotty · thorny · nuanced · abstract · cryptic · enigmatic · paradoxical · sophisticated
confrontational
Inclined toward hostile encounters
- contentiousInclined toward disagreement
- controversialCausing public dispute
- defiantOpenly resisting control
bold · audacious · questioning · disputing · dissenting · oppositional · contrarian · rebellious · subversive · antagonistic
growth
Increase in size
- fulfillmentState of achieved purpose
- accomplishmentSuccessful completion of aim
- achievementAccomplished goal or deed
satisfaction · self-improvement · breakthrough · milestone · progress · mastery · empowerment · resilience · perseverance · triumph
barrier
Obstruction preventing passage
- hurdleBarrier to leap over
- hindranceBarrier to progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
roadblock · stumbling-block · setback · constraint · limitation · bottleneck · snag · difficulty · handicap · complication
rivalry
Ongoing contest between opponents
- opponentOne who contends against
- adversaryEnemy in conflict
- head-to-headIn direct confrontation
matchup · contender · underdog · showdown · clash · duel · face-off · bout · contest · tournament
- competitivenessrivalry, vying, contending, outdoing, outperforming
- game descriptorsfun, exciting, addictive, immersive, competitive
- thought-provokingstimulating, fascinating, intriguing, engaging, compelling
- trail descriptionsscenic, rugged, steep, rocky, muddy
- challengesdifficult, hard, tough, obstacle, trial
- complexitycomplex, complicated, simple, intricate, easy
challengingeasy
Requiring minimal effort
simple · effortless · unchallenging · undemanding · straightforward
challengingboring
Failing to engage interest
dull · unstimulating · mindless · tedious · uninspiring
challengingagreeable
Pleasantly cooperative
accommodating · accepting · compliant · deferential · submissive
- challenging gameplayHard interactive entertainment
- challenging courseworkDifficult academic material
- challenging studiesIntellectually demanding schoolwork