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
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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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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
Rory Smith, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
By his fourth season, the team had a losing record and players were complaining that Bradley was too exacting.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
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
Alexander-Arnold is not unique in being held to a different, more exacting standard than the vast majority.
—Rory Smith, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025
By his fourth season, the team had a losing record and players were complaining that Bradley was too exacting.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
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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Her empathetic approach and careful unfolding of Dean’s story — particularly the bond between mother and son — reflect the very best of British documentary filmmaking.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
1 May 2025
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This careful search led Phan's team to a single object, a tiny dot in the infrared data.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
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Every debt-relief product review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of debt-relief products.—
Dana Miranda,
CNBC,
29 Apr. 2025
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This month, a study found that the people who’d participated in a rigorous diet-and-exercise program in the late nineteen-nineties, as Bryant did, were substantially less likely to develop diabetes decades later.—
Dhruv Khullar,
New Yorker,
28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Rust, a difficult movie to release, grossed $25k at 115 theaters, presented by Falling Forward Films.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
4 May 2025
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Surace 39-37 Round 3 - These are difficult to score.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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On one hand, the problem makes a manager’s life more challenging by limiting a team’s available options to potentially finish a close game.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
10 May 2025
-
Saving for retirement has become more challenging for many reasons.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 May 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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In particular, many younger men seem adrift and more drawn to macho, traditional models of being a man.—
Harmeet Kaur,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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Mamdani is tapping into a well of energetic support among young voters in particular, thanks in no small part to his stance on issues such as the Israel/Gaza conflict and trans rights.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
4 May 2025
Adjective
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Known for his Marian devotion—which encourages piety and seeks the intercession of the Virgin Mary—and strict doctrinal stances, he is viewed as a potential challenger to Parolin, especially in early voting rounds and has odds of 7/1.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Apr. 2025
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For those that don’t know, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Years is a traditional Kentucky bourbon adhering to strict requirements—100 proof, aged at least four years and produced in a single distilling season.—
Mark Littler,
Forbes.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacting. Accessed 14 May. 2025.
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