Synonyms of demanding

demanding 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈman-diŋ 

1

as in challenging

requiring much time, effort, or careful attention

the demanding assignment kept them working all night long

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenging
• difficult
• tough
• burdensome
• exacting
• onerous
• arduous
• hard
• laborious
• killing
• taxing
• grueling
• toilsome
• strenuous
• formidable
• persnickety
• testing
• rigorous
• oppressive
• trying
• stringent
• strict
• stiff
• rugged
• severe
• stern
• rough
• herculean
• rigid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undemanding
• light
• easy
• nondemanding
• simple
• unchallenging
• smooth
• effortless
• facile

2

as in exacting

hard to please

will play before a demanding audience of music critics, who are not easily impressed

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exacting
• careful
• particular
• nice
• finicky
• picky
• fussy
• choosy
• fastidious
• persnickety
• pernickety
• delicate
• finical
• selective
• dainty
• meticulous
• finicking
• fussbudgety
• critical
• old-maidish
• discriminating
• discerning
• painstaking
• overdemanding
• scrupulous
• insightful
• knowledgeable
• punctilious
• hypercritical
• faultfinding
• petulant
• captious
• peevish
• touchy
• overcritical
• squeamish
• ultrafastidious
• prissy
• queasy
• hyperfastidious
• carping
• prickly
• prim
• caviling
• niminy-piminy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• undemanding
• flexible
• low-pressure
• carefree
• lackadaisical
• relaxed
• loose
• affable
• lax
• lenient
• breezy
• permissive
• unfussy
• unfastidious
• uncritical
• laid-back
• devil-may-care
• happy-go-lucky
• undiscriminating
• indiscriminating

3

as in difficult

requiring considerable physical or mental effort

the demanding task of reading and grading student compositions

Synonyms & Similar Words

• challenging
• difficult
• tough
• rigorous
• hard
• formidable
• complicated
• heavy
• effortful
• exacting
• rugged
• strenuous
• sweaty
• rough
• severe
• arduous
• exhausting
• testing
• tall
• murderous
• backbreaking
• grueling
• intricate
• laborious
• complex
• painful
• uphill
• killer
• stiff
• herculean
• serious
• toilsome
• problematic
• pick-and-shovel
• annoying
• elusive
• involved
• moiling
• hellacious
• burdensome
• oppressive
• stubborn
• trying
• onerous
• brutal
• strict
• stressful
• Augean
• tricky
• abstract
• troublesome
• tight
• stringent
• bruising
• grim
• thorny
• insoluble
• abstruse
• hairy
• taxing
• labored
• vexatious
• irksome
• knotty
• opaque
• bothersome
• distressing
• ticklish
• recondite
• cruel
• spiny
• inhuman
• grievous

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• easy
• simple
• light
• undemanding
• soft
• effortless
• cheap
• clear
• mindless
• elementary
• facile
• manageable
• achievable
• uncomplicated
• doable
• gentle
• smooth
• comforting
• soothing
• relaxed
• accessible
• painless
• friendly
• user-friendly
• idiotproof

demanding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of demand

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• requiring
• requesting
• commanding
• claiming
• asking
• wanting
• exacting
• needing
• enjoining
• calling (for)
• pressing (for)
• insisting (on)
• clamoring (for)
• taking
• necessitating
• imposing
• stipulating (for)
• questing
• warranting
• harassing
• pleading (for)
• crying (for)
• requisitioning
• hounding
• badgering
• dunning

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• yielding
• giving up
• surrendering
• relinquishing

2

as in needing

to have as a requirement

a task that demands one's unremitting attention

Synonyms & Similar Words

• requiring
• needing
• taking
• wanting
• challenging
• involving
• necessitating
• claiming
• warranting
• calling for
• asking
• begging
• bearing
• entailing
• insisting
• lacking
• crying (for)
• commanding
• exacting
• enjoining
• pressing
• hurting (for)
• clamoring (for)
• stipulating
• questing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• having
• holding
• possessing
• owning

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

• asking
• charging
• commanding
• bringing
• fetching
• selling (for)
• pricing
• overcharging
• discounting
• assessing
• valuing
• undercharging
• billing
• marking up
• marking down
• invoicing

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of demanding

Adjective

And for families, that can transform an old chapter of service into a new and demanding reality. — Cristina Johnson, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

While the basic cycle may sound straightforward, newborns can quickly turn a predictable night into something much more demanding. — Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 14 Sep. 2026

Verb

For demanding media and creative workloads, these upgraded graphics options—combined with fast AMD Ryzen AI 9 processing and a boatload of RAM—are ideal. — Matthew Buzzi, PC Magazine, 19 Sep. 2026

The sheriff's office alleges that Chastain entered the bus, yelled and cursed at the driver while demanding that children be released, and either assisted or encouraged the unauthorized removal of children. — Dan Raby, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026