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Synonyms

taxing

American  
[tak-sing] / ˈtæk sɪŋ /

adjective

  1. wearingly burdensome.

    the day-to-day, taxing duties of a supervisor.
taxing British  
/ ˈtæksɪŋ /

adjective

  1. demanding, onerous, and wearing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • taxingly adverb
  • untaxing adjective

Etymology

Origin of taxing

First recorded in 1790–1800; tax + -ing 2

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These descriptions do not suggest in any way that Congress “intended to cede its taxing power.”

From Slate • Mar. 4, 2026

The few key traders with a licence to bring them in from Israel say Hamas have reimposed strict control over taxing the imports.

From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026

It moved social media’s focus from what you did to what you’re doing, Begg said, ultimately leading to the more performative and more taxing relationship many young people have with their online selves today.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 29, 2026

The government has scrambled to boost marriage and fertility rates, offering childcare subsidies and taxing condoms as it grapples with a rapidly ageing population.

From Barron's • Jan. 19, 2026

It was not just science that made this new world, it was also the state, which was busy taxing citizens, borrowing money and putting armies in the field.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.