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"challenge" is also used as a crossword clue. If that's what you saw, the answer is often dare (4 letters).
Definitions
raise a formal objection in a court of law
Word origin
From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier), from Latin calumnia (“a false accusation, calumny”).
Used in a sentence
“a challenge to the king's authority”
“For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places.”
“Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez added a superb second when he surged past four challenges to fire in low.”
Source: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0
Used as a crossword answer6 curated clues
01“difficult test”9 letters
02“Demanding task”9 letters
03“Difficult task”9 letters
04“Hard thing to do”9 letters
05“Tough task”9 letters
06“Difficult test”9 letters
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