What does demandingly mean?
"Demandingly" is an adverb formed from the adjective "demanding," which itself derives from the verb "to demand." It describes actions carried out in a way that places heavy requirements on those involved — demanding great effort, skill, stamina, or close attention. A climb might be described as demandingly steep, an exam as demandingly thorough, or a musical passage as demandingly intricate. The word also has a second, more personal sense: it can characterize behaviour that is insistent or imperative, as when someone looks at another person demandingly, expecting compliance or an answer. Because of this dual use, the word can describe either the intrinsic difficulty of a task or the pushy insistence of a person's manner. Its connotations lean toward seriousness and exertion rather than praise; calling something demanding acknowledges its challenge without necessarily criticising it. The adverb appears most often in written English — reviews, journalism, and criticism — where writers need a compact way to convey how strenuous something is. Related forms include the verb "demand," the adjective "demanding," and the noun "demand," all tracing back to Latin roots concerning what is owed or entrusted to someone.
In a way that requires great effort, skill, or concentration; in a manner that imposes heavy demands.
"The role is demandingly physical, requiring the actor to perform his own stunts."
Most commonly used before adjectives or participles (e.g. "demandingly difficult") or after verbs like "is" or "remains."
In an insistent or imperative manner, as if making a demand.
"He held out his hand demandingly, waiting for the keys."
Typically modifies verbs of looking, speaking, or gesturing; conveys impatience or authority.
It's the rare word that works both ways — a task can be done demandingly hard, and a boss can stare at you demandingly hard, too.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of demandingly
"Demandingly" is formed by adding the adverbial suffix "-ly" to "demanding," an English adjective dating from around the late sixteenth century. "Demanding" derives from the verb "demand," which entered English via Old French "demander" from Latin "demandaare," from "demandare" — to entrust or require — formed from "de-" plus "mandare" (to commit, order). The root "mandare" also gives us "mandate," "mandatory," and "command."
Related word forms
How demandingly is actually used
The word carries a neutral-to-negative connotation: describing work as done 'demandingly' stresses its difficulty, while describing a person's gaze or tone as 'demandingly' suggests impatience or authority. It is somewhat less common than the adjective 'demanding' and appears mostly in written or formal contexts.
Easily confused with demandingly
"Demanding" is the adjective describing something or someone that requires much effort (a demanding job), while "demandingly" is the adverb describing how an action is performed.