irrational demand

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'irrational demand' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to express something unreasonable that somebody wants from another person. For example, "She made an irrational demand to have the project completed in two days."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Such breast-beating amounts to a truly irrational demand: that the present abolish itself, making way for a return to the past.

The Guardian

In the second example, another example in wintertime is presented, in which an irrational demand has arisen.

Petroleum Science

The current discussion of the "Russian Threat" has created a similar irrational demand for security silver bullets.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

As a factory official in the late 1950s, we learn, Mr Jiang resented the unmeetable and irrational demands made by Mao during the Great Leap Forward, but went along with them nevertheless.

The Economist

Ms. Botwin said that Mr. Williams had been fired because of his "intemperate behavior and irrational demands" on the people with whom he worked, and that Ms. Pellegrini had been fired because she was insubordinate to Mr. Sylver and had bungled a recertification project, nearly costing the county $70 million in lost federal money.

The New York Times

Intelligible reasons are those that members of the public can see as reasons for those who advance (or rely upon) them, as opposed to mere utterances, expressions of emotions, irrational demands or other irrelevant considerations.

SEP

And my larger visions of effective parenting had lost out to my smaller need to merely give in to Leo's irrational demands, make it to bedtime -- and live to see a new day.

Huffington Post

The men and women of the British cancer establishment conceived of themselves as managing the frequently irrational demands of a public they characterized as gullible and emotional, a conceptualization of "the public" that they shared with cancer experts abroad and with other medics at home.

Bulletin of the History of Medicine

I hate it when we make irrational, contradictory demands of our president.

The New York Times

"But there is no shortage of irrational consumer demands -- like cosmetic surgery or S.U.V's -- that industry is only too happy to cater to," he said.

The New York Times

For their part, NMT Medical officials said Dr. Wilmshurst became more irrational and demanding as the trial evolved and eventually proved impossible to deal with.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a situation where someone's expectations are unrealistic or unfounded, use "irrational demand" to highlight the lack of logic behind their request.

Common error

Avoid using "irrational demand" to describe opinions that are simply not widely accepted. This phrase should be reserved for situations where the request itself is logically flawed, not just disliked.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "irrational demand" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "irrational" modifies the noun "demand". It describes a specific type of request or expectation that lacks logic or reason. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "irrational demand" effectively conveys that a request or expectation lacks logic or reason. As Ludwig AI states, it's grammatically correct and can be used to describe something unreasonable that somebody wants. While not exceedingly common, its presence across News & Media and Science indicates its appropriateness in objective discussions. Alternatives like "unjustifiable demand" or "illogical demand" offer similar meanings. Remember to reserve "irrational demand" for situations where a request is genuinely flawed in its reasoning, not merely unpopular.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unjustifiable demand

Indicates a demand that lacks a valid reason or basis.

nonsensical demand

Emphasizes the lack of sense or logic in the demand.

illogical demand

Highlights that the demand doesn't follow logical reasoning.

unreasonable request

Focuses on the unfair or inappropriate nature of the request.

absurd requirement

Suggests the requirement is ridiculous or completely out of place.

preposterous expectation

Implies the expectation is utterly foolish or outrageous.

outlandish claim

Indicates the claim is bizarre or far-fetched.

groundless insistence

Emphasizes the lack of foundation or justification for the insistence.

baseless expectation

Highlights the lack of support or reason for the expectation.

senseless imposition

Focuses on the lack of purpose or meaning behind the imposition.

FAQs

How can I use "irrational demand" in a sentence?

You can use "irrational demand" to describe a request that is illogical or unreasonable. For example, "The company's "irrational demand" for increased productivity led to employee burnout".

What's the difference between "irrational demand" and "unreasonable request"?

While similar, "irrational demand" emphasizes the lack of logical reasoning, whereas "unreasonable request" focuses on the unfair or inappropriate nature of the request. You might consider using "unreasonable request" when fairness is a primary concern.

What are some synonyms for "irrational demand"?

Alternatives include "illogical demand", "nonsensical demand", or "absurd requirement". Choose the synonym that best fits the context and the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "irrational demand" formal or informal?

"Irrational demand" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts, depending on the surrounding language. It can be used in news articles, academic papers, and everyday conversations.