demanding 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈman-diŋ How to pronounce demanding (audio)
Definition of demandingnext
1
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention the demanding assignment kept them working all night long

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in exacting
hard to please will play before a demanding audience of music critics, who are not easily impressed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort the demanding task of reading and grading student compositions

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in needing
to have as a requirement a task that demands one's unremitting attention

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in asking
to set or receive as a price superstars of the big screen who demand millions for appearing in a movie

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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 demanding
Adjective
Donovan is set to perform most his own stunts for the physically demanding role. — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026 Other proposals were rejected, one to expand the emergency curfew for teens to include 17-year-olds and another demanding reforms at the city's Office of Public Health and Safety after an audit found oversight lapses. — Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 9 July 2026
Verb
Families of the hostages were actively demonstrating, demanding that the government negotiate. — Anne Neuberger, The Atlantic, 3 July 2026 His girlfriend, Syanna Ruiz, held their child in court, demanding the defendants remain behind bars. — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 2 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for demanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for demanding
  1. challenging
  2. exacting
  3. difficult
  4. requiring
  5. needing
  6. asking
  7. careful
  8. tough
Adjective
  • These renovations have made Bliss Matcha & Beyond’s move less challenging, according to Gorski.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 11 July 2026
  • Ahead of a challenging midterm election, Republicans have seized an opportunity to castigate their opponents as extremists after democratic socialists won recent Democratic congressional primaries in New York and Colorado.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 11 July 2026
Definition of challenging
Adjective
  • Alex Ross dives into the œuvre of a thinker whose work was omnivorous, exacting, and hopeful.
    — Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
  • The restoration required four years of work, during which local artisans carefully restored the frescoes and ceilings in accordance with the most exacting traditional standards.
    — Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 16 June 2026
Definition of exacting
Adjective
  • Her protectiveness of the island stretches back years, in part because Nantucket saved her, in a way, during a difficult time in her life.
    — Wendy Naugle, USA Today, 11 July 2026
  • In the book, Hollis asks Gigi to stay after a difficult conversation about the affair.
    — Max Gao, Variety, 11 July 2026
Definition of difficult
Verb
  • Washington is alone in legally requiring such proactive outreach to the news media, the Federation of State Medical Boards says.
    — Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 2026
  • Personal wealth may also grow outside of the business, requiring coordination between business and personal planning.
    — Blake Harris, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of requiring
Verb
  • Albin heads into his second season needing to put wins on the board in 2026.
    — Tom Layberger, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • Marko Arnautovic’s early goal already seemed to throw a spanner in the works with both teams needing a draw to progress.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of needing
Verb
  • Nester also called into question the security protocols surrounding the event, asking Bagley about how many officers were assigned and other preparations.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
  • Shipwrecked includes recordings of a series of increasingly astonishing phone calls between Schettino and the Italian Coast Guard, with the latter repeatedly asking him to clarify the nature of the emergency.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 11 July 2026
Definition of asking
Adjective
  • When an accident brings the enigmatic Gaia into their lives, unexpected desires begin to take shape, unsettling the careful balance that has long defined their relationship.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 July 2026
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of careful
Adjective
  • The talks are meant to focus on the toughest matters, including fully reopening the strait and rolling back Tehran’s disputed nuclear program.
    — Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Patrick Cantlay made a little noise in an otherwise quiet year for the American with five birdies in 10 holes and then a collection of tough par saves at the end that felt just as valuable.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
Definition of tough

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Cite this Entry

“Demanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/demanding. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on demanding

Nglish: Translation of demanding for Spanish Speakers

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