intensely challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "intensely challenging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a task or situation that is very difficult and requires significant effort or skill to overcome. Example: "The exam was intensely challenging, pushing all of us to our limits."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

"Against this intensely challenging backdrop, the 2015 survey reflects Afghans' understandable concerns, and a frustration that more progress isn't being made.

The Guardian

Appropriate to the broader cultural context in and into which it was written, Bravura Cool offers readers an intensely challenging yet eminently rewarding aesthetic and pedagogical experience, and one richly deserving of further study, consideration, and dialogue.

Huffington Post

Glassmaking is an intensely challenging process, technically and physically.

The New York Times - Arts

Team projects can be an intensely challenging experience for HLS students for no other reason than it is atypical in the law school curriculum.

Harvard University

However, being a non-targeted approach, selecting a specific sequence of interest from a vast number of restriction digest products can be intensely challenging and cumbersome10.

Nature

But the fact is that older women are not only better educated, but have mostly emerged through intensely challenging years of balancing work and family.

The Guardian - Opinion

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Together they created a great work of art, a distillation of tensions that made people intensely uncomfortable, challenged their assumptions, and provided them with images and concepts for describing their reality.

The Guardian - Books

But for all the attention Mr. Obama drew to himself coming into the debate, he was frequently overshadowed by former Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, who — speaking more intensely — repeatedly challenged Mrs. Clinton's credentials and credibility, and frequently seemed to make the case against Mrs. Clinton that Mr. Obama had promised to make.

The New York Times

He was intensely curious, always challenging the status quo and interested in everyone, especially drawn to the weaker members of the clan.

Huffington Post

And then Ms. Thompson unleashed a bruising, busy and rather intensely clinical drum solo, challenging the acoustics of the new hall.

The New York Times - Arts

In some respects, disability presents the instances or issues that most intensely and interestingly challenge those traditional philosophical presuppositions and principles against which feminist thought has been inclined to protest.

SEP

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "intensely challenging", ensure that the context clearly indicates what is being challenged and why it demands significant effort. For example, "intensely challenging research" is better than simply "intensely challenging".

Common error

Avoid stacking intensifiers with "intensely challenging". Phrases like "very intensely challenging" are redundant. Choose either "intensely challenging" or "very challenging" for better clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "intensely challenging" primarily functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun. It describes the high degree of difficulty or demanding nature associated with something. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this usage is considered correct and appropriate. Ludwig also presents examples in various contexts, which showcases that the adjective is appropriate for most contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

30%

Science

30%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "intensely challenging" is a grammatically correct and widely used phrase that effectively conveys a high degree of difficulty and demanding effort. As supported by Ludwig AI, this phrase is appropriate for various contexts, particularly in news, academic, and scientific writing. While it maintains a neutral to professional tone, it's essential to avoid redundancy by not stacking intensifiers. For varied expression, consider alternatives such as "extremely demanding" or "highly difficult", tailored to the specific context and desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely demanding

Replaces "intensely" with "extremely" and "challenging" with "demanding" for a slightly less emphatic tone.

highly difficult

Substitutes "challenging" with "difficult", focusing on the level of difficulty involved.

exceptionally arduous

Uses more formal vocabulary to emphasize the strenuous nature of the challenge.

particularly taxing

Highlights the depleting or straining effect of the challenge.

incredibly rigorous

Emphasizes the strictness and thoroughness required by the challenge.

profoundly testing

Focuses on the way the challenge evaluates or puts one's abilities to the test.

fiercely competitive

Shifts the focus to the competitive aspect of the challenge, implying high stakes and strong opposition.

seriously problematic

Highlights the troublesome nature of the challenge, focusing on the difficulties it presents.

exceedingly complex

Emphasizes the intricate and complicated nature of the challenge.

uncommonly formidable

Highlights the imposing and daunting nature of the challenge.

FAQs

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

You can use "intensely challenging" to describe tasks, situations, or experiences that require significant effort and skill. For instance, "The project presented an "intensely challenging" set of problems to solve".

What are some alternatives to "intensely challenging"?

Alternatives include "extremely demanding", "highly difficult", or "exceptionally arduous", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "intensely challenging" a formal or informal phrase?

"Intensely challenging" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. It's a relatively strong phrase, so consider your audience and the overall tone of your writing.

What makes something "intensely challenging"?

Something is "intensely challenging" when it requires a high degree of skill, effort, and perseverance to overcome. It often involves complex problems, significant obstacles, or high stakes.