more intellectually challenging

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "more intellectually challenging" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing the difficulty or complexity of different tasks, subjects, or activities that require higher levels of thought or understanding. Example: "The advanced mathematics course is more intellectually challenging than the introductory one."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

16 human-written examples

"Blade Runner," released two weeks before "Tron," was a much richer and more intellectually challenging take on the responsibility and power of man when he finally meets his machine.

The New York Times - Arts

Kevin Hamilton, a Seattle lawyer who argued against term limits before Judge Dwyer and later attended the Supreme Court arguments on the issue, said the Dwyer proceeding had been the more intellectually challenging.

The New York Times

Having freshmen and sophomores attend community colleges eases housing shortages at four-year schools and allows their faculties to teach fewer introductory courses, freeing instructors up to teach more intellectually challenging upper-level courses and seminars.

Harvard Business Review

But it doesn't get a lot of publicity because it doesn't interest hackers, who prefer to spend time with more intellectually challenging security vulnerabilities.

Forbes

For my colleague, teaching a text that is far below grade level by nearly every measure was more appropriate than teaching a book that, while containing troubling content, was more intellectually challenging.

HuffPost

If anything, the new treaty appears to make it more intellectually challenging for governments like China and Iran to justify their current censorship of the Internet.

The New York Times - Tech

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Jones played the slightly more intellectually challenged of the pair, while Smith's anger and frustration typically mounted to explosive levels during their regular exchanges on their BBC1 show Alas Smith and Jones, (its title a pun on the name of the American western series Alias Smith and Jones), a comedy fixture in the 1980s.

The Guardian

That action was swiftly slapped down in an article by Welby's more intellectually challenged predecessor George Carey, in which the latter alighted tone-deafly on the language of commerce to make his point, whingeing that the protesters had "put [St Paul's] out of business for a week".

The Guardian - Opinion

The latter is arguably more sophisticated, intellectually challenging and intrinsically rewarding.

The Guardian

Here's a sentence you don't read every day: "[P]opular culture has, on average, grown more complex and intellectually challenging over the past 30 years".

Forbes

All of the exhibits were made in the last five years, at a time when digital art and design have become more aesthetically refined and intellectually challenging.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "more intellectually challenging" when comparing two distinct activities, subjects, or situations, to clearly indicate the one requiring greater mental effort and cognitive engagement.

Common error

Don't use "more intellectually challenging" to describe tasks that are clearly simple. Reserve it for situations where the cognitive demand is genuinely higher compared to something else.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "more intellectually challenging" functions as a comparative adjective phrase. It modifies a noun or noun phrase to indicate that one thing requires greater cognitive effort or mental stimulation compared to another. As noted by Ludwig AI, this usage is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Wiki

2%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "more intellectually challenging" is a grammatically sound and commonly used phrase for comparing the cognitive demands of different tasks or subjects. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is suitable for various contexts, including news, science, and academia. While versatile, it is best reserved for situations where a genuine difference in cognitive effort is present. Consider alternatives like "more mentally demanding" or "more cognitively stimulating" for nuanced expression. Avoid overuse in overly simplistic situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

more intellectually stimulating

Similar to the original but with a focus on intellectual invigoration.

more mentally demanding

Focuses on the mental exertion required, highlighting the effort involved.

more cognitively stimulating

Emphasizes the aspect of activating and enhancing cognitive processes.

greater intellectual challenge

Rephrases as a noun phrase, emphasizing the existence of a substantial challenge.

more academically rigorous

Specifically highlights the increased stringency of academic pursuits.

more academically advanced

Suggests a higher level of study or knowledge required.

more thought-provoking

Highlights the quality of stimulating deeper reflection and contemplation.

more creatively demanding

Shifts the focus to the creative aspect requiring innovative thinking.

more analytically complex

Emphasizes the complexity requiring strong analytical skills.

more conceptually intricate

Highlights the elaborate nature of the concepts involved.

FAQs

How can I use "more intellectually challenging" in a sentence?

You can use "more intellectually challenging" to compare the cognitive demands of two different tasks or subjects. For example, "Advanced calculus is "more intellectually challenging" than basic arithmetic".

What are some alternatives to "more intellectually challenging"?

Alternatives include "more mentally demanding", "more cognitively stimulating", or "greater intellectual challenge", depending on the specific context.

Is it better to say "more intellectually challenging" or "more intelligent challenging"?

"More intellectually challenging" is the correct and commonly used phrase. "More intelligent challenging" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "more intellectually challenging" and "more physically challenging"?

"More intellectually challenging" refers to tasks that require greater cognitive effort, while "more physically challenging" refers to tasks that demand greater physical exertion.