1
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
the demanding assignment kept them working all night long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exacting
hard to please
will play before a demanding audience of music critics, who are not easily impressed
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the demanding task of reading and grading student compositions
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in requiring
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority
the losing party demanded a recount of the votes cast in the election
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in needing
to have as a requirement
a task that demands one's unremitting attention
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in asking
to set or receive as a price
superstars of the big screen who demand millions for appearing in a movie
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of demanding
Mariam Fam, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In California, ahead of the Hajj, Rashid and his wife have prepared for the physically demanding pilgrimage by going to the gym and on walks.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Beth Kowitt, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
There will always be an undertone of uneasiness, but Leetch has chosen to focus on the positives, particularly how Keenan’s demanding style led to the best conditioning of his career.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for demanding
Adjective
In Pasadena, ahead of the Hajj, Rashid and his wife have prepared for the physically demanding pilgrimage by going to the gym and on walks.
—Mariam Fam, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In California, ahead of the Hajj, Rashid and his wife have prepared for the physically demanding pilgrimage by going to the gym and on walks.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Verb
But those same companies signal in countless ways that their ideal worker is somebody unencumbered by family obligations who can adhere to the kind of demanding daily schedules and career trajectories that were standard for white-collar white men 70 years ago.
—Beth Kowitt, Mercury News, 27 May 2026
There will always be an undertone of uneasiness, but Leetch has chosen to focus on the positives, particularly how Keenan’s demanding style led to the best conditioning of his career.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for demanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demanding
Adjective
-
During a particularly challenging episode with her mental health, Halverson said, his mother went to stay with her sister in Wisconsin.—
Jourdan Rodrigue,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
-
Perhaps my teen years and college (particularly the latter) would have not been so challenging emotionally, academically and socially.—
Sahaj Kaur Kohli,
Washington Post,
28 May 2026
Adjective
-
But the goods are here, and Mysius is an exacting, exhilarating filmmaker who is more than ready to be leveled up.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
-
In the clip, Lu jokingly recalled being asked to pay $60 to check a backpack that just barely exceeded Spirit’s extremely exacting carry-on dimensions.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Building the program had proved difficult.—
Andrew Carter,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Sindcom 14-Piece Food Storage Containers Set The pantry is one of the most difficult places to organize thanks to boxes of cereal, pasta, baking ingredients, and more scattered about.—
Kelsey Fredricks,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
The president signed legislation last year requiring the release of documents, but some critics say more should be available to the public.—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
24 May 2026
-
Notably, roles requiring higher technical expertise often provide more stability due to sustained demand for specialized skills, reinforcing the value of continuing to grow your capabilities over time.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Your natural warmth helps people stay engaged without needing to force enthusiasm.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
Haiti entered the final round of qualifying matches needing a victory and Honduras to lose or draw to qualify automatically as the first-place finisher in Group C of Concacaf World Cup qualifying.—
Michelle Kaufman
May 24,
Miami Herald,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Leaders can make that distinction explicit by asking debaters to move from critique to contribution.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
There were so few sightings of lovebugs in 2023 that Leppla and other entomologists received calls from the public asking where the irksome little critters went.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
Despite criticism that zero income taxes only benefit high-earners, the Sunshine State’s booming economy and positive migration trends are evidence that such policies merit careful consideration by policymakers nationwide.—
Nicole Huyer,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
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But a careful reading of the S-1 reveals substantial barriers in the path to achieving the sorcerous performance required to reward shareholders who flock to the most anticipated debut ever seen.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
-
Management has partly attributed the membership slowdown to tougher comparisons from a year earlier, but there’s more to the story.—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
28 May 2026
-
The California Assembly on Thursday overwhelming voted in favor of a bill that would prohibit children under 16 years old from having a social media account, setting up what is likely to continue to be a tough battle over the coming months.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Demanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demanding. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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