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

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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
Jim Gaffigan Foxwoods Resort Casino, 350 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket The ever-popular funnyman Jim Gaffigan has three shows at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater due to public demand. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 31 May 2025 Consumer demand for these options will help force change. Karen Dougherty, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 May 2025
Verb
Arteta is a demanding coach who prizes intensity in training sessions. James McNicholas, New York Times, 30 May 2025 He is accused of pressing a hard object into the store clerk’s back, then demanding money, police said. Helena Wegner, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for demand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demand
Noun
  • The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 25 May 2025
  • Able Solutions has not responded to requests for comment.
    Colleen Shalby, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
Noun
  • Just a couple of months ago, a similarly sized home down the street, also with both Intracoastal and ocean frontage, recently hit the market for $87 million.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 1 June 2025
  • After their third straight Super Bowl appearance and coming off a year in which their sack production hit a three-year low, the Chiefs were the market for defensive line reinforcements.
    Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • Apart from those violations, the CPSC says the swings also fail to meet mandatory warning requirements required to inform parents of the risks of death or serious injury to infants.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • System requirements: Windows or macOS with an available USB 2.0 port or PlayStation 5 gaming console.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Amorim requires a new centre forward to lead the line, but has missed out on landing Liam Delap after the Ipswich Town striker reportedly decided to join Chelsea instead.
    Graham Ruthven, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • Visiting remote stretches of coast, pristine beaches, or villages that receive few tourists typically requires an explorer yacht that can be self-sufficient for several days.
    Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 30 May 2025
Verb
  • Humans, specifically, need tryptophan to produce serotonin and melatonin, which respectively regulate mood and sleep.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2025
  • Typically, people need pharmaceutical assistance to recover from parasites, Sullivan says, but there aren’t as many treatments available for Giardia as there are Cryptosporidium.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • The first document Walker Wright asks Presley to sign is an acknowledgement that Walker Wright is representing Presley personally while also acting as the lawyer who drafted the contracts between Kruse, Presley, and a third partner, business adviser Kevin Fialko.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 28 May 2025
  • Madrid sources, who asked to remain anonymous to protect relationships, believed his last months at PSG and somewhat difficult exit impacted his start at Madrid.
    Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • But Tyler, the Creator believes delusion is a must for artists and creatives across the board.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 29 May 2025
  • Plus, opting for styles in breezy linen is an absolute must for summer’s hotter weather.
    Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 29 May 2025
Verb
  • Walz, while lacking the same national exposure that some of his potential rivals have commanded this year, remains actively engaged across the country.
    Peter Aitken, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 May 2025
  • The driving beat keeps the pressure up, as Who’s voice reaches a new stratosphere, commanding you to get to the nearest dancefloor ASAP.
    Stephen Daw, Billboard, 30 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Demand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demand. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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