DEMAND Synonyms: 103 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

demand 1 of 2

noun

di-ˈmand

Definition of demand

as in request

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in market

the state of being sought after especially for purchase a steadily declining demand for film cameras

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in requirement

something necessary, indispensable, or unavoidable we are very confident that our new employee is fully equal to the demands of the job

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

demand

2 of 2

verb

as in to request

to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority the losing party demanded a recount of the votes cast in the election

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to need

to have as a requirement a task that demands one's unremitting attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to ask

to set or receive as a price superstars of the big screen who demand millions for appearing in a movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 latter was extended to meet demand back in 2000 after Sunderland’s home had been opened at an initial capacity of 42,000. — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 22 July 2026 However, their gains resulted more from increasing daily rates than any massive jump in demand, similar to what many area hotels experienced. — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026

Verb

Street protests in Kyiv and other cities demanded Fedorov’s return, viewing him as a key military modernizer, and urged Zelenskyy to fire Syrskyi, regarded as part of the old guard. — ABC News, 22 July 2026 When asked how much longer members of the Senate should wait until demanding for something to be done about McConnell’s prolonged absence, Tuberville said less than a month. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for demand

Recent Examples of Synonyms for demand

Noun

Ericson said the request to further explore Midland came from several sources.

— Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Spokespersons for Paxton’s campaign and office and the Texas Tech system did not immediately return requests for comment.

— Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 July 2026

Definition of request

Noun

Riding the wave of a technological boom, market returns for institutional investors soared in the 1990s, with CalPERS reporting returns of over 20% in 1997 and its assets doubling from the previous decade.

— Zachary Christensen, Oc Register, 24 July 2026
PayJoy runs the other way, into exactly the markets that correlation leaves out.

— Boaz Sobrado, Forbes.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of market

Noun

The extradition process requires a hearing before a US judge to determine whether legal requirements are met, and the brothers have the option to mount legal challenges.

— Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
That means ensuring ballot questions are accurately summarized, comply with applicable legal standards, and satisfy constitutional requirements before they are certified.

— Robert Cordy, Boston Herald, 19 July 2026

Definition of requirement

Verb

Graham said, in one case, staff helped arrange transportation after a school required a young mother to walk more than a mile to a bus stop while carrying her baby, books and backpack.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
DeepSeek challenged the conventional wisdom that developing an advanced AI model requires massive financial investment and vast computing power, and offered competitive pricing.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 24 July 2026

Definition of require

Verb

Each episode gives Ossoff new material and reinforces the argument Kemp and Dooley made during the runoff that Republicans needed a political newcomer without a long record.

— Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
Young striker Jayden Danns needs to be assessed after feeling discomfort in his hamstring last week, while Kaide Gordon and Owen Beck are still undergoing rehab following injuries.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026

Definition of need

Verb

Of significance, the city is asking the Blazers to pay $3 million annually for a property tax offset, which would escalate over time.

— Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Some hospitality workers may have been asked to work longer hours during the games for higher pay – but that wouldn’t show up meaningfully in the jobs report.

— David Goldman, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Definition of ask

Noun

These old folks would rather be short than long, and their short sales (which are bets that the stocks will go down lower) are part of the fuel that makes owning at least some of these a must.

— Jim Cramer, Contributor, CNBC, 16 July 2026
For an elevated yet quintessential camp-like experience, High Hampton is a must.

— Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 16 July 2026

Definition of must

Verb

Fans have watched as Jackie and her longtime mate, Shadow, have tragically lost eggs and offspring, and also successfully raised eaglets to leave the nest, 120 feet up a Jeffrey pine with a commanding view of Big Bear Lake.

— Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Today, the king has no political power, but the monarch still officially offers the job to the leader of the party that can command a majority in the House of Commons.

— Jill Lawless, Fortune, 20 July 2026

Definition of command

Browse Nearby Words

demagogues

demand

demanded

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demand. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of demand

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on demand

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

itinerant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes