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

The truth is, managing a game and operating within a system of offense are two of the most important things about excelling at the most demanding position in professional sports. —Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2026

Turns out, von Allmen had the better inside track on the demanding hill. —Pat Graham, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026

On top of that headwind, shoppers are getting picky and more demanding of a seamless returns process. —Peter Sadera, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026

Executives are resisting the notion young digital natives are unambitious and too demanding in the workplace. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Feb. 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