CHALLENGED Synonyms: 73 Similar and Opposite Words

challenged

verb

Definition of challenged

past tense of challenge

as in questioned

to demand proof of the truth or rightness of don't hesitate to challenge any statement that generalizes about people

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dared

to invite (someone) to take part in a contest or to perform a feat I challenge you to swim to the other side of the pond

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in required

to have as a requirement having to put up with an overbearing boss challenges forbearance

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of challenged Anecdotally, less than 1% of asset protection plans are ever challenged by creditors. — Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026 The moves will likely be challenged in court, as previous similar attempts to change the childhood vaccination schedule have been. — Rob Stein, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 Access to healthcare in the region already had been challenged by years of rebel conflict in one of Congo’s most remote and vulnerable areas, near the borders of South Sudan, Uganda and Rwanda. — ABC News, 10 Aug. 2026 And then as his outing unfolded, and he was challenged there in his second inning with the bases loaded. — Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026 Both hearings involve federal officials and the California Coastal Commission, and neither is expected to produce a ruling that won’t be challenged, later, in court. — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 9 Aug. 2026 Our study shows that many organizations still lack clear rules for when AI outputs should be challenged or overridden. — Neil Dhar, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 Investors also challenged lofty tech stock valuations and doubted whether surging capital spending will generate adequate returns. — Deena Zaidi, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026 The discovery has challenged existing theories of planet formation, suggesting planets can emerge in environments previously considered unlikely. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 2 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for challenged

Verb

Skeptics have questioned whether graphics processing units (GPUs) can support this type of financing because the chips have historically been viewed as rapidly depreciating technology.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2026
So when Lahn came to his farm last week, Burrack questioned him on his approach to agriculture.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of questioned

Verb

When Guggenheim summoned contestants to the starting line on the first day of June outside City Hall in Manhattan, only four car companies – Acme, Ford, Shawmut, and Itala – dared to show up.

— Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026
This is far from the first time the model has dared to share a playful nude moment on social media.

— Meg Walters, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of dared

Verb

Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots, was forced to roll out a second artificial surface after the World Cup because its first attempt didn’t pass an independent lab test as required by the NFL and NFLPA.

— Tim Graham, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
According to party rules, officials, especially those who hold leadership positions, are required to declare a change in marital status, so they’re flagged for oversight and potentially monitored for any links to corruption.

— Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of required

Verb

Outside of Presidential elections, most political races—even those on which the future of a party is said to hinge—are fiercely contested by only a small number of people.

— Benjamin Wallace-Wells, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026
And while rib eye cachetada tacos’ etymological origins are somewhat contested, one bite irrefutably confirms that this dish does slap, indeed.

— Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of contested

Verb

To avoid a runoff, Graham Nordone needed to pass the 50% threshold in Tuesday’s special primary election, as South Carolina law requires a candidate to win more than half of the vote to secure their party’s nomination.

— Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 12 Aug. 2026
But because the late senator had been seeking reelection and already secured the nomination in June, Republicans also needed a new candidate on the ballot.

— Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of needed

Verb

Ford took one final adventure as the legendary character under the direction of James Mangold with Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

— Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Their 34-10 win over the Browns on Saturday at Soldier Field included 34 unanswered points after Cleveland took a 10-0 lead.

— Kevin Fishbain, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of took

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challenge

challenged

challenger

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“Challenged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/challenged. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of challenged

verb

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