as in applied
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively
parental involvement has consistently been shown to exert the most influence over a child's success in school
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Recent Examples of exerted
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.
—
Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
From 1939 to 1975, the Franco dictatorship placed Spain in the grip of repressive leadership that, among other abuses of power, exerted strict censorship over the country’s cinema.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2026
The European Union's top diplomat accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday in Brussels for more pressure to be exerted on Moscow to press it into making concessions.
—Aamer Madhani and Susie Blann The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
The European Union’s top diplomat accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday in Brussels for more pressure to be exerted on Moscow to press it into making concessions.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Suzuki was best known for his investigations into the Unification Church, a Korean religious movement that had exerted significant influence in Japan since the nineteen-sixties—and that maintained direct ties with Abe and his political party.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Those climaxes exerted visceral intensity, but delicacies at the threshold of audibility seemed physical presences as well.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
The most famous is Bernoulli’s principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid decreases the pressure exerted by the fluid.
—Cat Rainsford, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Boris Fishman, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
From 1939 to 1975, the Franco dictatorship placed Spain in the grip of repressive leadership that, among other abuses of power, exerted strict censorship over the country’s cinema.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 5 Feb. 2026
The European Union's top diplomat accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday in Brussels for more pressure to be exerted on Moscow to press it into making concessions.
—Aamer Madhani and Susie Blann The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
The European Union’s top diplomat accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday in Brussels for more pressure to be exerted on Moscow to press it into making concessions.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Suzuki was best known for his investigations into the Unification Church, a Korean religious movement that had exerted significant influence in Japan since the nineteen-sixties—and that maintained direct ties with Abe and his political party.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Those climaxes exerted visceral intensity, but delicacies at the threshold of audibility seemed physical presences as well.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
The most famous is Bernoulli’s principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid decreases the pressure exerted by the fluid.
—Cat Rainsford, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exerted
Verb
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Ferguson is listed as the sole director of the companies, all of which applied in recent days to be struck off the UK’s official Companies House register, where virtually all businesses must file information such as directors’ details and annual returns.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
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Think about the amount of technology that applied in America from that time, to 2019.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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For example, Mermentau Cove previously used Mardi Gras funds to construct a pavilion for their graveyard and add flags to veterans' graves.—
Carlie Procell,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
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The practice was particularly used by patrolling troops during World War II, according to Smith, who has educated himself in the sport’s long history.—
Ben Church,
CNN Money,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The animals are portrayed by puppets wielded by Magill and Anastasia Muñoz, who serves as the production’s movement director.—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
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Epstein wielded not only his checkbook in service of his charges but also his Rolodex.—
Chris Quintana,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Respect for works and authors’ rights is a fundamental principle for Gaumont, which can only be exercised with the trust and transparency of creative artists.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
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Public relations depends on judgment exercised under scrutiny.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exerted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exerted. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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