demand 1 of 2

1
as in request
something that someone insists upon having agreed to the customer's demand for a refund

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in market
the state of being sought after especially for purchase a steadily declining demand for film cameras

Synonyms & Similar Words

3

demand

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb demand contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of demand are claim, exact, and require. While all these words mean "to ask or call for something as due or as necessary," demand implies peremptoriness and insistence and often the right to make requests that are to be regarded as commands.

demanded payment of the debt

When can claim be used instead of demand?

While in some cases nearly identical to demand, claim implies a demand for the delivery or concession of something due as one's own or one's right.

claimed the right to manage his own affairs

When could exact be used to replace demand?

The words exact and demand can be used in similar contexts, but exact implies not only demanding but getting what one demands.

exacts absolute loyalty

When is require a more appropriate choice than demand?

In some situations, the words require and demand are roughly equivalent. However, require suggests the imperativeness that arises from inner necessity, compulsion of law or regulation, or the exigencies of the situation.

the patient requires constant attention

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of demand
Noun
The demand for sports is commensurate with its unmatched effectiveness as a delivery system for marketing spiels; as such, the segment outperforms the rest of TV’s programming mix, even when the macroeconomic situation is dicey. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 25 Apr. 2025 Each concession has been followed by another demand. Tetiana Kotelnykova, The Atlantic, 25 Apr. 2025
Verb
At the time, Santos proclaimed his innocence and refused to resign from office despite a growing group of lawmakers demanding his exit. Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 25 Apr. 2025 The taxpayer demanded to speak to his grandson and thought heard his grandson’s voice over the phone begging for help (the scammer used artificial intelligence, or AI, to clone the voice). Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for demand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demand
Noun
  • The Treasury Department didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
    Zac Anderson, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, 20, who was born in Grady County, Georgia, was held at the Leon County Jail, despite a judge being shown his birth certificate in court at the request of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
    Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • With no new goods entering Gaza, many foods have disappeared from markets, including meat, eggs, fruits, dairy products and many vegetables.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Marrying Business Impact With Economics While the industry has witnessed a proliferation of smaller, specialized AI models, significant AI chip innovation remains essential to deliver the performance requirements for supporting advanced reasoning and multimodal models.
    Maribel Lopez, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
  • Similar requirements in the past have driven producer countries to strengthen and clarify protections against deforestation.
    Troy Aidan Sambajon, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • As a result of Moms Demand Action's district-by-district advocacy, more than 11 million students across the country now live in a district that requires schools to educate parents about the critical role of secure firearm storage in keeping students safe.
    Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • This powerful white label ERP Agency Plan offers everything your digital business requires—all in one comprehensive, user-friendly platform.
    StackCommerce Team (Sponsored), PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • There needs to be a continuation of the Behavioral Threat Assessment process to include colleges and Universities.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Boone was asked if Chisholm needs to find a better way to control his emotions.
    Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Healthcare providers consider your medical history and ask about symptoms.
    Mark Gurarie, Health, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Three Manhattan federal prosecutors resigned on Tuesday after saying the Trump administration had asked them to admit wrongdoing in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’s corruption case as a condition of their return.
    Ross O'Keefe, The Washington Examiner, 22 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Parental monitoring a must, chief says Mooresville police conducted a similar sting in May 2024 called Operation Artemis, which led to 15 arrests.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2025
  • For connoisseurs, the pairing menus are a must, blending storytelling and flavor with seamless precision.
    Rai Mincey, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Isaacman is a billionaire pilot and astronaut who founded the Shift4 Payments company as a teenager and commanded the first civilian space crew in 2021 aboard a SpaceX capsule.
    Karen Freifeld, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • These little bottles command three-figure price tags.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 24 Apr. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demand. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on demand

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!