as in challenging
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
beginning rock climbers should choose a less testing route to the summit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sampling
to put (something) to a test
please test this sample for the presence of lead
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in trying
to subject (a personal quality or faculty) to often excessive stress
all of these unnecessary questions are testing my patience
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of testing
Lindsey McGinnis, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2021
So a review of the principles and record of means-testing social programs is warranted.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2021
The debate among Democrats has cut across typical ideological lines, with centrist and moderate Democrats lining up in favor and against means-testing elements of the bill.
—Andrew Duehren, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2021
There were only 40 lucky guests invited—two of whom unluckily could not attend after pre-testing positive for Covid—to what was effectively the launch of Marcelo Burlon’s new charitable foundation this July.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for testing
Adjective
The animated story of a cosmetics research rabbit had millions of views on social media and gathered more than 1.3 million signatures for anti-testing legislation in Mexico.
—Lindsey McGinnis, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2021
So a review of the principles and record of means-testing social programs is warranted.
—Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2021
The debate among Democrats has cut across typical ideological lines, with centrist and moderate Democrats lining up in favor and against means-testing elements of the bill.
—Andrew Duehren, WSJ, 12 Oct. 2021
There were only 40 lucky guests invited—two of whom unluckily could not attend after pre-testing positive for Covid—to what was effectively the launch of Marcelo Burlon’s new charitable foundation this July.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 7 Sep. 2021
See All Example Sentences for testing
Recent Examples of Synonyms for testing
Adjective
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Gap Easy Trousers Finding summer work pants that are both breathable and stylish can be challenging, but these petite Easy Trousers from Gap fit the bill perfectly.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
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Figuring out what that number is can be quite challenging as the issue is twofold: the company's cash needs and your own personal reserves, which are separate.—
Kristin McKenna,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
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New York police on Monday were trying to determine why someone set a woman ablaze board a train in Brooklyn in a fatal attack drawing outrage from city and state leaders who have been laboring to make the trains safer.—
John Bacon,
USA TODAY,
24 Dec. 2024
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The holdups come during one of the busiest travel times of the year, frustrating hundreds of customers trying to get home for the holidays.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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James is playing the final year of his contract at $52.6 million, which is a very difficult number for teams to pay.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 July 2025
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Our models and expertise can sniff out the broad parameters, but the precise location and timing of moisture plumes, training (quasi-stationary rain cells), and forcing mechanism can be difficult.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Verb
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The military is examining options for soldiers to control the distribution of food limited to a minimum caloric amount necessary for survival, the person said.—
Anas Baba,
NPR,
24 Mar. 2025
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The examining magistrate now has to decide what direction to give to the proceedings.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The Freeform rolling carry-on was deemed the Best Overall Carry-on by Travel + Leisure after rounds of rigorous testing at our New York City lab.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
11 July 2025
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Before a potential controller can even step foot in the academy, there’s a rigorous application and qualification process.—
Alexandra Skores,
CNN Money,
11 July 2025
Verb
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With the MacBook Air launching earlier than the iPhone SE and ahead of the next Apple Intelligence update, this points to a press release launch and Apple pushing its consumer laptops further into the background.—
Ewan Spence,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
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That presents some planning opportunities, including possibly pushing some SALT payments into 2026.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Morton, 43, may take that advice under serious consideration, mentioning how tough the fans – and even fellow cast members – have been on her following this past season’s cast trip to Grenada.—
John Lawson,
Essence,
9 July 2025
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But after rookie third baseman Ronny Mauricio made an exceptionally tough double play to end a two-on, one-out threat in the bottom of the eighth, there was no way the Mets were losing.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
9 July 2025
Verb
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He was forced to leave the game in the final minutes of the Pelicans’ Play-In Tournament loss to the Lakers last season after straining his left hamstring.—
William Guillory,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
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This will deepen the divide between the global North and South on issues of race and cultural difference, straining the West’s diplomatic relations with countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America while provoking broader resentment toward Western countries seen as perpetuating racial hierarchies.—
Matias Spektor,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Testing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/testing. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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