demanding

1 of 2

adjective

de·​mand·​ing di-ˈman-diŋ How to pronounce demanding (audio)
-ˈmän-, 
dē-
Synonyms of demandingnext
: requiring much time, effort, or attention : exacting
a demanding job
demanding customers
demandingly adverb
demandingness noun

demanding

2 of 2

present participle of demand entry 2

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
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Adjective
And as routine tasks are automated, workers could lose opportunities to develop the experience needed for more demanding work. — Lindsay Dodgson, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2026 This can make even relatively simple decisions feel disproportionately demanding. — Kriti Kumar, Vogue, 24 Oct. 2026 The Sun enters your 12th House, drawing your attention toward rest, reflection, privacy, unfinished matters, and everything easier to hear when the outside world becomes less demanding. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026 That’s to make sure that the camera operators, producers, and editors who work on these shows will have the necessary skills to make programs for the most demanding and high-end brand in reality television. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for demanding

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

from present participle of demand entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

1926, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of demanding was in 1926

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Demanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/demanding. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

demanding

adjective
de·​mand·​ing
di-ˈman-diŋ
: making many or difficult demands : exacting
a demanding job
demandingly adverb
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