exhaustive
adjective
ex·haus·tive
ig-ˈzȯ-stiv 
: including all possibilities : thorough
conducted an exhaustive search
Examples of exhaustive in a Sentence
The list was long but not exhaustive.
after an exhaustive search of our house, we still hadn't found the cat
Recent Examples on the Web
The work behind the cars is exhaustive, in part to match the work of the engineers and designers that originally created them.
—
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
Keep in mind that weeds have evolved some very strong strategies to thrive in disturbed soil, despite farmers’ exhaustive efforts to control them.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
Yet despite exhaustive vetting, significant financial incentives, and deep leadership experience, more than 50% of CEOs fail to meet expectations and are replaced during the investment period.
—Samantha Allison, Harvard Business Review, 9 Apr. 2026
An exhaustive search followed, but her body was not immediately recovered.
—April 8, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhaustive
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Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2026
Keep in mind that weeds have evolved some very strong strategies to thrive in disturbed soil, despite farmers’ exhaustive efforts to control them.
—Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
Yet despite exhaustive vetting, significant financial incentives, and deep leadership experience, more than 50% of CEOs fail to meet expectations and are replaced during the investment period.
—Samantha Allison, Harvard Business Review, 9 Apr. 2026
An exhaustive search followed, but her body was not immediately recovered.
—April 8, CBS News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhaustive
Cite this Entry
“Exhaustive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustive. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exhaustive
adjective
ex·haus·tive
ig-ˈzȯ-stiv
: trying all possibilities : thorough
an exhaustive search
exhaustively
adverb
exhaustiveness
noun
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