18
difficult(adjective, hard, great, tough, awkward)
16
daring(verb, adjective, defiant, confronting, defying)
15
ambitious(adjective, ability, importance, effort, main)
15
disputing(verb, adjective, opposing, questioning, disagreeing)
14
exciting(adjective, importance, valuable, main, notable)
13
thought-provoking
12
defying(verb, opposing, disagreeing, confronting, defying)
10
defiant(adjective, unwilling, opposed, defiant, disobedient)
10
formidable(adjective, tough, severe, difficult, awkward)
10
weighty(adjective, importance, valuable, main, notable)
10
bold(adjective, defiant)
9
conflicting(verb, adjective, rival, opposing, defiant)
9
opposing(verb, adjective, rival, opposing, unwilling)
9
provocative(adjective, aggravating)
9
serious(adjective, hard, tough, difficult, importance)
8
audacious(adjective, defiant)
8
consequential(adjective, importance, valuable, main, notable)
8
influential(adjective, importance, valuable, main, notable)
8
key-note(adjective, importance, valuable, main, notable)
8
newsworthy(adjective, importance, valuable, main, notable)
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APASmart Define. (2016). challenging thesaurus. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/challenging/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2016. "challenging thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/challenging/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 22, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2016, challenging thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 22 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/challenging/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "challenging thesaurus" 2 March 2016. Web. 22 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/challenging/thesaurus/synonyms>