challenged
challenged
Pronunciation
IPA: /ˈtʃælɪndʒd/
Syllable Breakdown:
chal- (/ˈtʃæl/)
tʃ (as in "chair")
æ (as in "apple")
l (as in "laugh")
-lenged (/ɪndʒd/)
ɪ (as in "in")
n (as in "no")
dʒ (as in "jump")
d (as in "dog")
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base Form: challenge
Present Participle: challenging
Past Tense & Past Participle: challenged
Third Person Singular Present: challenges
Noun:
Singular: challenge
Plural: challenges
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb: "challenged" (past tense and past participle)
Definition 1: To have called into question or expressed a strong objection to something's validity, truth, or authority.
Synonyms: disputed, questioned, contested, debated, confronted, opposed
Antonyms: accepted, agreed, conceded, affirmed, supported, upheld
Definition 2: To have dared or invited someone to engage in a contest, competition, or difficult task.
Synonyms: dared, competed, vied, provoked, pushed, goaded
Antonyms: avoided, retreated, backed down, surrendered, yielded
Definition 3: To have subjected someone or something to a difficult or demanding situation, often testing their abilities, resilience, or character.
Synonyms: tested, tried, pushed, strained, stretched, taxed
Antonyms: eased, simplified, facilitated, helped, assisted
Adjective: "challenged"
Definition 1: Having a difficulty or disability that affects one's abilities, typically used as a more sensitive or euphemistic term for a specific impairment.
Example: "A physically challenged athlete."
Synonyms: impaired, disabled, handicapped (dated), affected
Antonyms: able-bodied, unimpaired, capable
Definition 2: Facing significant difficulty or requiring special effort due to the nature of a situation, task, or environment.
Example: "A technically challenged project."
Synonyms: demanding, difficult, tough, arduous, strenuous
Antonyms: easy, simple, straightforward, undemanding
Examples of Use
Books
"The author of The Giver, Lois Lowry, was challenged multiple times by parents and school boards who objected to its mature themes and content" (Goodreads, May 2024).
"Book banning is an attempt to remove or restrict materials, based upon the objections of a person or group. A challenge is an attempt to remove or restrict materials..." (American Library Association).
In the novel The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen's actions and defiance of the Capitol's rules often challenged the authority of President Snow and the brutal system he enforced.
Newspapers and Online Publications
"A small group of citizens has challenged the new zoning ordinance, arguing that it violates the city's master plan" (The Daily Herald, March 2023).
"As a physically challenged athlete, she has demonstrated remarkable perseverance and has become an inspiration to many" (The Guardian, November 2022).
"Freedom of the press was challenged in a number of ways during World War I, including through government-issued transport bans on certain newspapers" (Sveriges museum om Förintelsen).
Entertainment
A recent documentary series about climate change has challenged long-held assumptions about corporate responsibility and government inaction.
"Streaming providers have moved from challengers to challenged as they face a tough battle to keep paying customers engaged amid rising production costs and subscription-sharing" (Deloitte, November 2023).
In a popular video game, players are challenged to solve complex puzzles and defeat powerful enemies to progress through the story.
General Public Discourse
During a public debate, a speaker’s position on a controversial social issue was repeatedly challenged by members of the audience.
The widespread use of social media has challenged traditional norms of privacy and communication, leading to new conversations about digital etiquette and data security.
A local community group has challenged the city council's decision to build a new road through a protected wetland area.
10 Famous Quotes Using Challenged
"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." — Viktor Frankl
"Knowledge has to be improved, challenged, and increased constantly, or it vanishes." — Peter Drucker
"Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light." — Carl Sagan
"If one does not fail at times, then one has not challenged himself." — Ferdinand Porsche
"To be successful you must accept all challenges that come your way. You can't just accept the ones you like." — Mike Kafka (Quote uses the word "challenges," not "challenged." This is an error.)
"The hardest times for me were not when people challenged what I said, but when I felt my voice was not heard." — Carol Gilligan
"I always was that person who was hard on myself and challenged myself no matter what I was doing, whether it was passing third grade or playing basketball." — Kendrick Lamar
"The world that you and I live in is increasingly challenged. Population growth, pollution, over-consumption, unsustainable patterns, social conflict, climate change, loss of nature... these are not good stories." — Jack Dangermond
"Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional." — Roger Crawford
"A fair trial is one in which the rules of evidence are honored, the accused has competent counsel, and the judge enforces the proper courtroom procedures — a trial in which every assumption can be challenged." — Harry Browne
Etymology
The word "challenged" comes from the Old French word chalenger, which meant to accuse, to claim, or to object. This Old French word, in turn, has roots in the Latin word calumniari, meaning "to accuse falsely" or "to slander."
When the word was first used in English around the 13th century, it was primarily a legal term. To "challenge" someone meant to formally accuse them of something or to object to a person's legitimacy in a legal context, such as challenging a juror's suitability. Over time, the meaning broadened.
By the 15th century, it began to take on a more common, non-legal meaning of calling someone to a contest or a duel. This is the sense of "challenge" we still use today when we talk about a dare or a competition. The sense of "challenging" something as difficult or demanding is a more recent development, emerging in the 20th century.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Challenged
Challenged to a duel: A classic phrase referring to a formal invitation to a fight, often with weapons, to settle a matter of honor.
Verbally challenged: A humorous and gentle way to describe someone who has difficulty expressing themselves clearly or speaking well.
Technically challenged: A common phrase used to describe someone who struggles with technology or has a hard time using electronic devices.
Challenged for time: This phrase means to have a very limited amount of time to complete a task or meet a deadline.
Challenged for space: To have very little room or physical area available.
Physically challenged: A euphemism used to describe someone with a physical disability.
Mentally challenged: A dated and often offensive term, now more commonly replaced by "intellectually disabled," to describe someone with a cognitive disability.
To be challenged by a lack of resources: A phrase indicating that a project or goal is difficult to achieve because the necessary materials or funds are unavailable.
Her authority was challenged: This means someone questioned or opposed her right to give orders or make decisions.
He felt challenged by the new role: This implies that the new job was demanding and pushed him to grow and develop new skills.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of challenged from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
