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

1
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of exact
Adjective
The exact nature of the object remains unclear. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025 Lipcsak did not know an exact retirement date but said Patterson was last active with the department in October. Amber Gaudet, Charlotte Observer, 3 Nov. 2025
Verb
Unions in particular will file CEQA lawsuits (or threaten to do so) to exact wage concessions. The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025 The Tigers exacted some measure of revenge by eliminating Cleveland in the wild card series — only to once again lose the ALDS in five games — this time in highly heartbreaking fashion, on a walk-off base hit by the Seattle Mariners in the 15th inning. Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exact
Adjective
  • And the second season is set to be based on the prequel novel, correct?
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Instead of automatically filling the detergent measuring cup to the brim and adding it to your load of laundry, consult our guide to using the correct dose of detergent every time.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Slow solvent evaporation causes particle clumping and pore collapse, weakening the precise structures required for efficient energy storage.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2025
  • For the creation of wonderful characters and a story that feels spontaneous yet precise in its depiction of power, its moral dilemmas, and the absurd contradictions with the human condition.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • World’s most advanced quantum clocks Quantum clocks provide very accurate timekeeping.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
  • November 04, 2025 When Wikipedia was founded in 2001, the idea that people around the world could come together to create an accurate online encyclopedia covering virtually any topic seemed far-fetched.
    Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Featuring a subtle kick flare at the hem and chic pintuck detailing, they’re designed to hit right under the calf, or just at the ankle for petite people like myself.
    Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Adding parsnips and turnips to the recipe gives the dish a subtle earthy flavor that perfectly complements the savory chicken.
    Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The limits of logic To test whether this informational foundation could be simulated, the team relied on mathematical principles, including Gödel’s incompleteness theorem.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
  • There’s no mathematical proof of that.
    Big Think, Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Porat and Venkatakrishnan both discussed how the moment demands urgency from governments and businesses alike.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2025
  • While it was reformulated in 2023, Glossier’s loyal community (which has always been central to the brand) demanded the original back, and the brand listened.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Judge Steven Denny imposed the 60-year sentence that same day.
    Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • He was forced to accept it, because it was imposed on him.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But hiring off-duty cops to intimidate and extort victims, or throw them in jail, represented a significant escalation.
    Jesse Hyde, Rolling Stone, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Second, the numbers being shared are incorrect and part of an attempt to extort a payment from Discord.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exact. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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