navigate a challenge

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "navigate a challenge" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing the process of dealing with or overcoming difficulties or obstacles. Example: "In her new role, she had to navigate a challenge that tested her leadership skills."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

While the two authors above speak to corporate culture, the same holds true for personal culture, whether overcoming a failed relationship, a tanked business venture, or navigating a health challenge.

Huffington Post

The DreamWorks contract comes as Netflix is trying to navigate a dense thicket of challenges.

The New York Times

You could just start a company without any startup experience, sure, but you will have a significantly higher chance of success if you already know how to navigate a startup's unique challenges, including: raising money, changing product direction, and cultivating a culture.

TechCrunch

I wanted to find a way to meet and navigate any challenge once and for all, to shed my inner fears and truly advance.

Huffington Post

The hope of Rockwell's playground project is that children who have experimented with fitting together oversized blocks and cogs — and who have learned to navigate a place where the social challenges of sharing and collaboration are built into the experience — will be better equipped to handle the complexities of twenty-first-century life.

The New Yorker

The hope of Rockwell's playground project is that children who have experimented with fitting together oversized blocks and cogs and who have learned to navigate a place where the social challenges of sharing and collaboration are built into the experience will be better equipped to handle the complexities of twenty-first-century life.

The New Yorker

After your sixth Aperol Spritz, this straight-out-of-Inception setting would be confusing in the best sort of way; it would become a challenge to navigate an ever-shifting landscape that's see-through from one side and solid from the other.

Vice

But as a small publisher whose titles typically sell in the thousands of copies, Mr. Temple is navigating a tricky publishing challenge.

The New York Times - Books

"We find ourselves navigating through a challenging global economy," he said.

The New York Times

In training young men of color (even from a range of backgrounds), it is not enough to drum up interest, rather we must work hard to help them manifest their resilience in navigating a host of challenges en route to excellence.

Huffington Post

Foreign businesses face additional challenges navigating a complex economy riddled with corruption and badly in need of reforms in business regulations, public subsidies, and the labor market.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "navigate a challenge" when you want to emphasize the active and skillful approach to dealing with something complex. The phrase highlights the journey and the skills needed rather than just the end result.

Common error

Avoid using "navigate a challenge" when a simpler term like "solve", "handle", or "address" would suffice. Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex and pretentious. Choose a word that matches the simplicity of the situation, or the weight of the challenge.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "navigate a challenge" functions as a verb phrase, where 'navigate' is the verb and 'a challenge' is the object. It describes the action of skillfully directing oneself through a difficult situation.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

0%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "navigate a challenge" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe the act of skillfully managing a difficult situation. Despite Ludwig indicating its correctness, the phrase is currently missing from Ludwig's database of examples, indicating a need to use it with care in very formal contexts. The phrase is suitable for neutral and professional contexts. When using "navigate a challenge", ensure the context implies a process that requires skill or strategy. Remember that alternatives such as "overcome an obstacle" or "tackle a difficulty" may be more appropriate depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Maneuver through a difficulty

Similar to "navigate", but emphasizes skillful and clever movement around the problem.

Overcome an obstacle

Focuses on the act of successfully dealing with and moving past a barrier, differing from the original phrase which implies a process.

Tackle a difficulty

Emphasizes a direct and forceful approach to dealing with a problem, unlike the more nuanced "navigate".

Address a problem

Highlights the act of giving attention to and dealing with an issue, slightly more formal than "navigate".

Negotiate a hurdle

Focuses on overcoming a specific barrier or obstacle, suggesting a process of bargaining or dealing.

Deal with an issue

Suggests managing or handling a problem, more general than the strategic implication of "navigate".

Contend with a problem

Emphasizes struggling or competing with a problem, rather than strategically moving through it.

Handle a setback

Specifically refers to managing a reverse or obstacle to progress, whereas "challenge" is broader.

Manage a crisis

Implies dealing with a critical or urgent situation, a more intense scenario than simply "navigating a challenge".

Circumvent an obstacle

Implies finding a way around a problem, rather than directly confronting it, offering a different approach to "navigate".

FAQs

How can I effectively use "navigate a challenge" in a sentence?

Use "navigate a challenge" when the situation requires careful planning, skill, or strategy to overcome a difficulty. For example: "The company had to navigate a significant challenge to maintain its market share".

What are some alternatives to "navigate a challenge"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases such as "overcome an obstacle", "tackle a difficulty", or "deal with an issue".

Is it appropriate to use "navigate a challenge" in formal writing?

Yes, "navigate a challenge" is suitable for formal writing. However, ensure it accurately reflects the complexity of the situation. If the issue is simple, a more direct term might be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "navigate a challenge" and "overcome a challenge"?

"Navigate a challenge" implies a process of moving through difficulty strategically, whereas "overcome a challenge" focuses on successfully conquering the problem. "Navigate" highlights the journey; "overcome" highlights the result.