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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
writing will always be an exacting task
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 exacting
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
That meant that creditors had to follow the more exacting claim process.
—
Virginia Hammerle,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
Yet other, more controversial projects, exacting irreversible change to capital institutions, are facing greater opposition.
—
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Adjective
The moral complexities of the story – based on true events – are particularly well underlined by the exacting visual style and strong performances.
—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
That meant that creditors had to follow the more exacting claim process.
—
Virginia Hammerle,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
The market is healthy, and brands are catering to an exacting set of demands.
—
Joe Bobowicz,
Vogue,
8 June 2026
Yet other, more controversial projects, exacting irreversible change to capital institutions, are facing greater opposition.
—
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacting
Adjective
-
Determination and careful calculations — hold on, carry the 2 — are a must.
-
Graduate students face lower federal limits and the loss of Grad PLUS, requiring careful financial planning.
Adjective
-
And a rigorous screening protocol for LFS patients developed by David Malkin, a protege of Fraumeni and Li, helps detect early-stage malignancies, improving the odds of treating them and prolonging lives.
-
According to Lacey, who helped set up the Code Four program last year, enforcing the law requires a clear grasp of ethics and a rigorous attention to detail to make sure the job is done well.
Adjective
-
Aviation experts said those conditions would have been difficult to navigate that evening when the helicopter, a Robinson R66, crashed in the Dawson Forest Wildlife Management Area.
-
But traffic on the waterway remains a fraction of pre-war levels with different authorities vying to organize the transit of vessels, leaving operators with a difficult choice over which path to take.
Adjective
-
Keeping your hair looking and feeling shiny can be challenging, but not with this hair kit.
-
Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Jaime Moore said that fighting the fire had been extremely challenging.
Verb
-
In that way, a commitment to physical fitness and its various metrics offers leaders greater tolerance for the demanding responsibilities of the role.
-
Does that mean Rob Manfred is specifically demanding that drag be reduced?
Verb
-
In its latest state budget that is expected to be voted on by the legislature this week, North Carolina is imposing a 6% tax on net trading fee revenue from prediction markets operating within the state, according to WRAL.
-
Colombia wasted no time imposing itself on the Portugal defense, taking two shots in the opening minutes, the first a header by Cordoba after a Diaz shot was deflected, and another by Rodriguez that went wide.
Verb
-
In April of that year, Michael Spilotro and a third brother, Victor, were charged with extorting money from two businesses associated with prostitution and using violence to enforce their demands, UPI reported at the time.
-
The report describes Indigenous patrols in Venezuela allegedly working alongside armed groups controlling mining areas and extorting workers along river routes.
Adjective
-
The 5-star analyst highlighted that Pinterest has delivered double-digit global user growth for ten consecutive quarters, with his May data analysis indicating particular momentum in the second quarter of 2026.
-
And Freddie becomes a bag man for the civil rights movement, and the Rumford Act in particular.
Cite this Entry
“Exacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacting. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
