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 trend's noon cutoff is also arbitrary, and while the habits are beneficial, the timing and exact numbers may not suit everyone's needs or lifestyles — and may not always be possible. Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2025 Due to the high-profile nature of his case, his exact prison location has not been publicized. Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 19 Oct. 2025
Verb
Every Edelweiss piano comes standard with Virtuoso self-playing technology, which is seamlessly integrated before the piano undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure both its sound and finish meet exacting standards. Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 10 Oct. 2025 Other intriguing characters include Dixie Bennings (LeAnn Rimes), a bitter former singer determined to use her son, Blue (Hunter McVey), to exact revenge on her old lover. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exact
Adjective
  • The pool of possible questions was raised to 128, and the requirement for correct answers raised to 12 out of 20 asked.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Most restaurants correct violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly after.
    Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 21 Oct. 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
  • Many experts donated years of their time and decades of expertise to help me make these depictions as rich and accurate as possible.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2025
  • These projections have been fairly accurate over the past decade, with sportsbooks predicting the East’s total number of regular season wins within single digits six times.
    Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 21 Oct. 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
  • Cosmologists and mathematical physicists often seek ways to circumvent the theorem, looking to quantum gravity (or other non-standard scenarios) to break us out of the requirements that general relativity imposes.
    Big Think, Big Think, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Earlier this year, similar mathematical models flagged unusual betting on individual pitches thrown by Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Louis Ortiz.
    Dian Zhang, USA Today, 24 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 27 Oct. 2025.

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