Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Requiring much time, effort, or attention: Describing a task, job, or situation that needs a lot of work, skill, or patience.
   • Making many or difficult requests: Describing a person who is hard to please because they expect a lot of attention or very high standards.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • The new manager is very demanding; she expects perfect reports by the end of each day.
  • Nursing is a physically and emotionally demanding profession.
  • The course has a demanding schedule with lectures every morning and lab work every afternoon.

Advanced Usage

• "to be demanding of": to require a high level of something from someone or something.
  • This role is demanding of both your technical knowledge and your leadership skills.
• "mentally/physically demanding": requiring a lot of mental or physical effort.
  • Chess is a mentally demanding game.
  • Construction work is physically demanding.

Variants and Related Words

• Demand (verb/noun): to ask for something forcefully; a strong request or need.
  • The workers demand higher pay. (verb)
  • There is a high demand for skilled programmers. (noun)
• Undemanding (adjective): not requiring much effort or attention; easy.
  • He prefers an undemanding job after retirement.

Synonyms

• Challenging: testing one's abilities; difficult in a stimulating way.
• Exacting: making great demands on one's skill, attention, or other resources.
• Arduous: involving or requiring strenuous effort; difficult and tiring.

Antonyms

• Easy: achieved without great effort; presenting few difficulties.
• Undemanding: not requiring much effort or attention.
• Lenient: (of requirements or standards) not strict; merciful.

Related Phrases

• Make demands on/upon: to require something from someone or something.
  • Caring for a newborn makes great demands on a parent's time and energy.
• On demand: available whenever asked for.
  • The movie is available on demand through the streaming service.

Adjective

1. 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