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

The conductors who oversee the recording of the movie scores are portrayed as hyper-demanding corporate perfectionists. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2026

Quantum computers could eventually solve very demanding computational problems much faster than regular computers. — Sophya Garashchuk, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

Verb

Local groups like DeFlock Fort Worth, DeFlock DFW, CLEAR Rule of Law and the Tarrant County chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus have taken the matter into their own hands, demanding Tarrant County and its cities remove the cameras. — Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026

Wider spreads mean investors are demanding higher yields for holding corporate debt, viewing it as riskier. — Michelle Fox, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026