demanding

1 of 2

adjective

de·​mand·​ing di-ˈman-diŋ 

-ˈmän-, 

dē-

: requiring much time, effort, or attention : exacting

a demanding job

demanding customers

demandingly

di-ˈman-diŋ-lē 

-ˈmän-, 

dē-

adverb

demandingness noun

demanding

2 of 2

present participle of demand entry 2

Synonyms of demanding

Adjective

• challenging
• difficult

Examples of demanding in a Sentence

Adjective

She had a demanding schedule with little free time.

Factory work can be physically demanding.

I have heard it is one of the most demanding courses at the university.

Their boss was really demanding, often expecting them to work long into the night.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Japan is also dealing with a shortage of skilled workers, so JR East is looking for ways to make these jobs safer and less physically demanding. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

For these more demanding tasks, the K70 offers a full-coverage cleaning mode that tackles floors, walls, waterlines and slopes. — New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026

The film is set at Ironclaw Academy, a school where the animal companions of sorcerers – known as familiars – go through a demanding and frequently messy training regime. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

Hell Week is widely considered one of the most physically and mentally demanding portions of the initial training, which lasts roughly six months. — James Laporta, CBS News, 5 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of demand entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for demanding

• commanding
• disbanding
• expanding
• freestanding
• misbranding
• outstanding
• remanding
• upstanding
• withstanding
• banding
• branding
• handing

Kids Definition

demanding

adjective

de·​mand·​ing

di-ˈman-diŋ

: making many or difficult demands : exacting

a demanding job

demandingly adverb