1
as in careful
hard to please
he was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rigorous
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
the prep school's exacting standards for admission
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the new recruits had to adjust themselves to the exacting discipline of military life
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
writing will always be an exacting task
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in demanding
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in imposing
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in extorting
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exacting
Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
And his budgets, then as now, tended to reflect more exotic materials and more exacting processes.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Playing, winning, is exacting its toll in the form of pain.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Adjective
Ko enters this week with 22 victories and as only the 25th player to earn the requisite 27 points in arguably the most exacting Hall of Fame qualification system in sports.
—Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025
And his budgets, then as now, tended to reflect more exotic materials and more exacting processes.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
The dual pressures of addiction and burnout are exacting a steep toll on America’s entrepreneurs and executives.
—Jaime Catmull, Forbes, 4 Mar. 2025
Playing, winning, is exacting its toll in the form of pain.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacting
Adjective
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Be careful not to break the stems on flowers like cosmos or coneflowers because a bent stem won't provide water to the bloom.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Aug. 2025
-
Be careful to navigate around these components and move slowly when cutting anything with a mix of hard and soft textures, Rade Vukmir, MD, professor of clinical emergency medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine, tells SELF.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders program has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process.—
Marni Rose McFall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Every insurance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products.—
Liz Knueven,
CNBC,
15 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
This deep understanding of local transportation patterns would have been difficult with rapid multi-city expansion.—
Tima Bansal,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
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No calendar issue generates more frustration, or is more difficult to solve, than the transfer portal.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Taking the most challenging courses available — like AP, IB, honors, or dual enrollment classes — signals preparedness for college-level work.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Getting the Supreme Court to take this case at all is going to be extremely challenging.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Everest's unpredictable weather and difficult breathing conditions make this one of the most physically and mentally demanding climbs in the world.—
Samantha Stutsman,
People.com,
22 Mar. 2025
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Israel is demanding the release of all the remaining hostages, living and dead, with stages of a ceasefire in between releases, according to the ministry.—
Nadine El-Bawab,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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It could be argued that imposing retaliatory tariffs on electricity exports might encourage American states to seek more cost-effective energy alternatives, particularly those based on fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.—
Ali Hoss,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
-
These executive orders have addressed a broad range of policy areas, including imposing tariffs that has escalated trade tensions and provoked retaliatory measures from foreign governments.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Many items are selling fast in particular colors, and some are retiring once they’re sold out.—
Ali Faccenda,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
This was different, because Aggarwal wasn’t promoting a particular startup or product.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The widespread destruction triggered stricter building codes across the state.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
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In addition to broadening Opinel's appeal in jurisdictions with strict regulations on locking knives, the Opiflex mechanism is designed to streamline blade opening and closing for fast, intuitive knife use.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
16 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacting. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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