demanding

adjective

de·​mand·​ing di-ˈman-diŋ 

-ˈmän-, 

dē-

: requiring much time, effort, or attention : exacting

a demanding job

demanding customers

demandingly

di-ˈman-diŋ-lē 

-ˈmän-, 

dē-

adverb

demandingness noun

Synonyms of demanding

• challenging
• difficult

Examples of demanding in a Sentence

She had a demanding schedule with little free time.

Factory work can be physically demanding.

I have heard it is one of the most demanding courses at the university.

Their boss was really demanding, often expecting them to work long into the night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Those efforts produced significant performance and efficiency gains for several of the laboratory’s most demanding applications. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 17 July 2026

Yzerman was known as a demanding, intimidating general manager who could grind players in negotiations. — Max Bultman, New York Times, 17 July 2026

For business owners in Australia, particularly those navigating workplace relations and HR obligations, the environment is increasingly demanding. — David Price, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Schlesinger, who won additional acclaim for Fountains of Wayne and multiple other projects, was a demanding musical partner. — Steve Appleford, SPIN, 16 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of demand entry 2

First Known Use

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for demanding

• commanding
• disbanding
• expanding
• freestanding
• misbranding
• outstanding
• remanding
• upstanding
• withstanding
• banding
• branding
• handing

Kids Definition

demanding

adjective

de·​mand·​ing

di-ˈman-diŋ

: making many or difficult demands : exacting

a demanding job

demandingly adverb