challenge

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

v. query, question; controvert, dispute; dare, defy, stump. — n. exception; invitation, dare. See defiance, doubt.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [A demand]

Syn. dare, summons, provocation, calling into question; see call 4 , objection 2 , request .

2. Something that calls for special effort]

Syn. test, trial, hurdle, demanding task; see difficulty 1 .

v.

1. [To invite to a contest]

Syn. dare, defy, summon, confront; see dare 2 , invite 2 , summon 1 .

2. [To question]

Syn. dispute, call into question, examine, impugn; see ask 1 , doubt 1 , 2 , question 1 .

3. [To claim]

Syn. make demands on, stimulate, test; see claim 1 , excite 1 , 2 .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus)

I

n.

1. difficulty obstacle, trial, test, *hurdle, problem.

2. provocation dare, ultimatum, *throwing down the gauntlet, threat, summons, bid.

II

v.

1. produce difficulty test, try, make demands, tax.

2. provoke dare, give an ultimatum, *throw down the gauntlet, threaten, gage, defy, summon, beard, make a stand, face off, cross, stare down.

3. question contest, dispute, object, take exception, disagree.

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) I noun 1. An act of taunting another to do something bold or rash: dare. See REQUEST. 2. Behavior or an act that is intentionally provocative: defiance, provocation. See ATTACK. 3. The act of expressing strong or reasoned opposition: demur, exception, expostulation, objection, protest, protestation, remonstrance, remonstration, squawk. Slang: kick. See SUPPORT. II verb 1. To call on another to do something requiring boldness: dare, defy. Idiom: throw down the gauntlet. See REQUEST. 2. To confront boldly and courageously: beard, brave, dare, defy, face, front. Idioms: fly in the face of, snap one's fingers at, stand up to, thumb one's nose at. See RESIST. 3. To come near, as in quality or amount: approach, approximate, border on (or upon), rival, verge on. See SAME. 4. To express opposition, often by argument: demur, except, expostulate, inveigh, object, protest, remonstrate. Informal: kick, squawk. Idioms: set up a squawk, take exception. See SUPPORT. 5. To take a stand against: buck, contest, dispute, oppose, resist, traverse. See SUPPORT.