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demanding

/dɪˈmændɪŋ/

/dɪˈmɑndɪŋ/

Something that's demanding calls for more work or skill than the typical task. Babysitting might seem like an easy job, but depending on the kids it can actually be incredibly demanding.

A demanding job might require a lot of physical work, like farming, or a lot of patience and diplomacy, like being a teacher or a marriage counselor. When a person is described as demanding, it usually means that he or she has very high standards or is especially hard to satisfy. The word comes from the Old French demander, "to request or demand," by way of the Latin demandare, "entrust."

Definitions of demanding
  1. adjective
    requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill
    “found the job very demanding
    “a baby can be so demanding
    Synonyms:
    exacting, exigent
    requiring precise accuracy
    hard to please, hard-to-please
    (of persons) "his father was a hard-to-please taskmaster"
    needy
    demanding or needing attention, affection, or reassurance to an excessive degree
    rigorous, stringent, tight
    demanding strict attention to rules and procedures
    exacting, stern, strict
    severe and unremitting in making demands
    difficult, hard
    not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    undemanding
    requiring little if any patience or effort or skill
    lenient
    not strict
    easygoing
    relaxed and informal in attitude or standards
    light
    demanding little effort; not burdensome
    unexacting
    not rigorous
    easy
    posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
    show more antonyms...
Pronunciation
US

/dɪˈmændɪŋ/

UK

/dɪˈmɑndɪŋ/

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DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘demanding'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
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