exact 1 of 2

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as in precise
being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent the exact number of passengers on that airplane was 147

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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exact

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verb

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as in to demand
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to extort
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word exact different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of exact are accurate, correct, nice, precise, and right. While all these words mean "conforming to fact, standard, or truth," exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

In what contexts can accurate take the place of exact?

The synonyms accurate and exact are sometimes interchangeable, but accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

When could correct be used to replace exact?

In some situations, the words correct and exact are roughly equivalent. However, correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

When would nice be a good substitute for exact?

The words nice and exact can be used in similar contexts, but nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

How do precise and exact relate to one another?

Precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

How are the words right and correct related as synonyms of exact?

Right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

Examples of exact in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Age of infant child undetermined While the exact age of the infant victim is unclear, Rosas said that officials can confirm that he was indeed born. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024 Though his exact number of victims remains unknown, authorities have estimated that Alcala may have killed up to 130 people in the 1970s, according to the Associated Press, with several happening before his appearance on The Dating Game in 1978. Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 17 Oct. 2024
Verb
This type of employee will exact the highest cost on the company. Bernardo Nunes, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2024 Israeli retaliatory attacks have exacted an enormous price on Lebanese civilians, displacing hundreds of thousands and killing more than 1,000, with an exponential increase in the death toll since mid-September. Mona Yacoubian, Foreign Affairs, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for exact 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'exact.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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Cite this Entry

“Exact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exact. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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