What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contested
Example
The election results were contested by the opposition party. [contested: verb]
Example
The land ownership was contested in court for years. [contested: adjective]
challenged
Example
She challenged herself to run a marathon. [challenged: verb]
Example
The school provided resources for students with learning challenges. [challenged: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Challenged is more commonly used than contested in everyday language. Challenged is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while contested is less common and often used in specific legal or political contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contested and challenged?
Both contested and challenged can be used in formal or informal contexts, but contested is more commonly associated with formal language due to its legal and political connotations.
