1
as in demanded
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 imposed
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in extorted
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
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Recent Examples of exacted
In return for public investments, research grants, beneficial regulatory treatment, or discretionary nonenforcement of laws, the White House has exacted all manner of commitments from these entities.
—
Yuval Levin, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Most examples were equipped with a Borg-Warner close-ratio four-speed transmission, but a few were ordered with GM’s two-speed automatic, which exacted less of a penalty in acceleration, thanks to the Apollo’s weight of under 2,300 pounds—500 pounds less than that of Jaguar’s E-Type.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 2026
In doing so, political appointees have exacted more control over these agencies than in the past.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
Nvidia’s market value briefly topped $5 trillion in late October, before backtracking as the AI bubble fears also exacted a toll on its stock price because its chipsets are needed to power the technology.
—Michael Liedtke, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Advertisement The loss of over 1,000 major non-Russian firms exiting the Russian market upon its invasion of Ukraine represented one of the most costly penalties exacted on Putin.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
And as much as Carol likes to challenge and rebel against Zosia and the Others, that tension is a form of companionship, and its absence has clearly exacted a huge emotional toll on her.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Plus, there are the damaging indiscriminate predatory tariffs that have been exacted on small, fragile nations, such as Lesotho and Laos.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 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
Yuval Levin, The Atlantic, 20 Jan. 2026
Most examples were equipped with a Borg-Warner close-ratio four-speed transmission, but a few were ordered with GM’s two-speed automatic, which exacted less of a penalty in acceleration, thanks to the Apollo’s weight of under 2,300 pounds—500 pounds less than that of Jaguar’s E-Type.
—Robert Ross, Robb Report, 16 Jan. 2026
In doing so, political appointees have exacted more control over these agencies than in the past.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 15 Jan. 2026
Nvidia’s market value briefly topped $5 trillion in late October, before backtracking as the AI bubble fears also exacted a toll on its stock price because its chipsets are needed to power the technology.
—Michael Liedtke, Chicago Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
Advertisement The loss of over 1,000 major non-Russian firms exiting the Russian market upon its invasion of Ukraine represented one of the most costly penalties exacted on Putin.
—Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 Dec. 2025
And as much as Carol likes to challenge and rebel against Zosia and the Others, that tension is a form of companionship, and its absence has clearly exacted a huge emotional toll on her.
—Scott Tobias, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Plus, there are the damaging indiscriminate predatory tariffs that have been exacted on small, fragile nations, such as Lesotho and Laos.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacted
Verb
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The somber crowd created a memorial and demanded ICE leave Minnesota, echoing the outrage that followed George Floyd’s death.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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Bondi also demanded that Maine release its voter data, prompting a similar reaction from that state’s top elections official, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, also a Democrat.—
Alex Derosier,
Mercury News,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Last year, after Mayor Todd Gloria and the council completed a long-term con job that imposed trash fees on 220,000-plus homes at rates that were far higher than promised in 2022, anger was common.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Jan. 2026
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In 2024, in lockstep with the United States and President Joe Biden, Canada had imposed a 100% tariff on cars from China, essentially an embargo.—
Ken Roberts,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the indictment, the two defendants engaged in a racketeering conspiracy, committed multiple murders, engaged in drug distribution and extorted victims.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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An Orange County Civil Court wants Thompson to fill out an information sheet about his personal finances after last December’s $60,150 judgment in a lawsuit filed by Scott Meyer, who was extorted by Thompson’s Moving Giants.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The amount of restitution he will be required to pay will be determined at a later date, per the agency.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
22 Jan. 2026
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The Justice Department's NCAA basketball gambling investigation required nearly two years to fully uncover, spanning 26 criminal defendants.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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He was arrested the following month and initially charged with just one count of bank robbery.—
Jason Green,
Mercury News,
24 Jan. 2026
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Jonathan Rinderknecht has been charged with setting the fire that grew into the massive inferno.—
Michelle Edgar,
Daily News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The best part of the orange — your orange, Chicago taxpayers — already has been squeezed for the most juice, likely explaining the sale.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Jan. 2026
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Managers have become organizational shock absorbers, squeezed between executive decisions from above and team realities below.—
Caroline Castrillon,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement Indeed, few of today’s comments about Washington and slavery are more vitriolic than the criticisms levied by his nineteenth-century critics.—
John Garrison Marks,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Biden administration levied steep 100 percent tariffs on Chinese EVs and then essentially banned them for reasons of national security.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacted. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
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