challenging route

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "challenging route" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a path or course that is difficult or requires significant effort to navigate, often in contexts like travel, hiking, or problem-solving. Example: "The hikers decided to take the challenging route up the mountain, knowing it would test their skills and endurance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

In his memoir "Mountain Passages," Dr. Jeremy Bernstein, a physicist, remembered a close call when he was negotiating the Cosmic Spur, a challenging route up the south face of the Aiguille du Midi in the French Alps.

The New York Times - Science

The PNT is a challenging route with few waymarks and often no clear trail.

The Guardian - Travel

It's a challenging route with eight full days of cycling (80-120km a day).

The Guardian - Travel

But the news was tempered by a 16-team bracket showing a challenging route to the final, which Johns Hopkins almost won last year.

The New York Times - Sports

"Four Dead, Bonatti Safe," read the headline in an Italian paper, over the gaudy post-mortem of a tragedy on the most challenging route up Mont Blanc.

The New York Times - Books

After sitting on the back porch with Ms. Davis one day after the closing, they chose a more challenging route: to meld the layers of history with contemporary design.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Moore Phillips, 24, a student who lives in Chapel Hill, N.C., was preparing to climb Rainier's summit the other day via Liberty Ridge, one of the mountain's most exposed and challenging routes.

The New York Times

You can try a starter session at your local club; go on a guided tour; try a one- or three-mile "challenge route"; and log your miles on the website – the collective target is 11,073 miles collectively, the total distance of circumnavigating the British coastline.

The Guardian - Travel

Sidney Green playfully chides his friends from 10 years in the National Basketball Association that none of them spoiled by the N.B.A.'s riches would have even been tempted to take his low-budget, patience-challenging route to success as a college coach.

The New York Times - Sports

Immunization with cationic lipid nucleic acid complexes (CLNCs) and alphavirus E1ecto mixture (lipid-antigen-nucleic acid complexes:LANACs) provided significant protection in mice challenged with either WEEV, VEEV or eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV) regardless of challenge route.

New Horizons in Translational Medicine

Together, the time course of brain lesion appearance, i.e. months not days, the ability of the agent to survive the oral challenge route, the absence of brain histopathology in any of the control groups and the production of novel histological lesions in both the BSE- and the scrapie-challenged fish, in the absence of inflammation, however, make this possibility a remote one.

Plosone

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a "challenging route", be specific about the nature of the challenge. Is it physically demanding, technically complex, or mentally taxing? Adding detail enhances the reader's understanding.

Common error

Avoid using "challenging route" when simpler alternatives like "difficult path" or "hard way" would suffice. The phrase is most impactful when the route genuinely presents significant obstacles or complexities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "challenging route" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "challenging" modifies the noun "route". This phrase typically describes a path or course of action that presents difficulties or obstacles. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "challenging route" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe a path or course that presents significant difficulties. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is perfectly acceptable for use in written English, and is seen frequently in News & Media and Science contexts. Alternatives include "difficult path" and "arduous course". When using "challenging route", it's best to be specific about the nature of the challenge to enhance clarity. While versatile, avoid overuse in simplistic contexts where simpler terms suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

difficult path

Emphasizes the difficulty of the path, simplifying the original phrase.

arduous course

Replaces "challenging" with "arduous" and "route" with "course", both indicating difficulty and direction.

demanding track

Substitutes "challenging" with "demanding" and "route" with "track", highlighting the effort required.

tough road

Uses more informal terms to convey the difficulty of the route.

testing journey

Focuses on the journey aspect and the test of endurance it provides.

strenuous path

Replaces "challenging" with "strenuous", emphasizing the physical effort involved.

taxing course

Highlights the draining nature of the route, replacing "challenging" with "taxing".

complex course of action

Shifts the focus to a more abstract, action-oriented interpretation of the route.

formidable undertaking

Emphasizes the scale and difficulty of the route as an endeavor.

rigorous regimen

Implies a strict and demanding set of activities or steps, similar to a challenging route.

FAQs

How can I use "challenging route" in a sentence?

You can use "challenging route" to describe a difficult path or method, such as: "The hikers chose the "challenging route" up the mountain", or "The company took a "challenging route" to market their new product".

What's a good alternative to "challenging route"?

Alternatives to "challenging route" include "difficult path", "arduous course", or "demanding track". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "challenging route" formal or informal?

"Challenging route" is generally considered a neutral phrase suitable for both formal and informal contexts. However, more formal alternatives like "formidable undertaking" may be preferred in academic or professional settings.

What makes a route "challenging"?

A route can be "challenging" due to various factors, including physical difficulty, technical complexity, resource constraints, or strategic obstacles. The specific nature of the challenge depends on the context.