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
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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
Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
These methods, while less exacting, are also woefully undemocratic, allowing lawmakers to act independently from and against the interests of the American public.
—Big Think, 10 Oct. 2025
Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
Trump believes exacting tariffs can be a useful tool in prodding friends and foes on the global stage to bend to his will.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Adjective
Comparable in size to the Arc de Triomphe, the Porte Monumentale also contained surface ornamentation based on Haeckel’s exacting lifelong documentation of organisms to be found in the world’s oceans.
—Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
These methods, while less exacting, are also woefully undemocratic, allowing lawmakers to act independently from and against the interests of the American public.
—Big Think, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
Customers receive equally exacting service.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 13 Jan. 2026
Trump believes exacting tariffs can be a useful tool in prodding friends and foes on the global stage to bend to his will.
—Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacting
Adjective
-
Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
These soft and chewy treats are the result of dozens of careful recipe tests.—
Lizzy Briskin,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of personal finance products.—
Andreina Rodriguez,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Denim and cotton can survive in rigorous washing, while silk and wool will need a gentle washing.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Business leaders, of course, have their own interests and shareholders to serve, but Democrats can still protect the public interest while giving CEOs a seat at the table to reach pragmatic answers to difficult questions like these.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Activist groups say hundreds of people have been killed, though the true toll remains difficult to verify due to the internet blackout and tight state controls on information.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
This can feel challenging and heart-wrenching.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Nevertheless, holding serve with a 2-2-0 record on a challenging four-game trip isn’t the end of the world for the Sharks, who entered Tuesday in third place in the Pacific Division.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Several good ol' boy Texans even drove up to the gate of a military base carrying their hunting rifles demanding to inspect the base for these martial-law troops.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
On the same day that the iPhone 16 was released, September 20, 2024, Masengo was detained by the Congolese government for publishing a charter demanding rights for the Katangese people and calling for the mineral wealth of the province to flow back to them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Iranian authorities have responded by deploying numerous security forces, imposing internet blackouts and enforcing curfews in some areas in an effort to suppress the unrest.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Originally constructed to be a shopping mall, the imposing structure now serves as the headquarters of Venezuela’s intelligence services and a notorious prison.—
Uriel Blanco,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Barrio 18 and MS-13 gangs are rivals, battling for territorial control in Guatemala by extorting shopkeepers, transport workers and civilians.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Dec. 2025
-
The couple allegedly asked customers’ family members to send original passports to them and then frequently refused to return the passports unless customers paid hundreds of dollars more, effectively extorting them, Ellison’s office said.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
22 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
The exterior sides of the oven, in particular, may need to be deep cleaned to remove spills and splatters that drip down the sides of the unit when cooking.—
Jolie Kerr,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Testing out serums, in particular, takes a lot of trial and error.—
Michelle Baricevic,
InStyle,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacting. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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