exerted

past tense of exert
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 exerted Rezaei’s remarks are another indication of the control exerted by Tehran’s hardliners and their growing readiness to adopt a more offensive posture. Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026 Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa, the big three of the three hundred–plus ethnicities that made up the national character, exerted their outsized influence in the shattering wave of military coups that preceded and followed the brutal civil war. Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026 His administration has also exerted pressure against state AI laws. Dana Taylor, USA Today, 27 July 2026 By dominating the digital world, Silicon Valley has already exerted indirect control over the physical one. Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 18 July 2026 Texas Tech parted ways with the quarterback after other Big 12 teams exerted pressure on the Red Raiders, who had cleared Sorsby despite a betting scandal that included wagering on his own team at Indiana. Cal Phillips updated July 7, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026 Beijing has exerted greater institutional control in Tibet since Xi Jinping became the country’s president in 2012. Reuters, NBC news, 3 July 2026 The fiber lit up with this protein at the exact same spot where force was being exerted, suggesting that self-stabilization was occurring. Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 29 June 2026 Washington has exerted control over Venezuela's oil exports after a January military intervention that seized the country's then-president, Nicolas Maduro. Anniek Bao, CNBC, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exerted
Verb
  • The country applied to join the EU in 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.
    Azhar Sukri, CNBC, 30 Aug. 2026
  • If lime is needed to adjust the pH of the soil, it should be applied at least 1 month before reseeding.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Bleach should never be used on a mattress, even if it’s diluted.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Even so, Wemlinger says the combo was used in much the same way throughout the home.
    Kristina McGuirk, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • According to the witness, the driver then wielded a knife and reportedly chased the man, who fought the woman.
    Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • My main takeaway from Capps’s course was that the New Religious Right was not a spiritual revival but a political machine, one that cloaked its ambitions in scripture and wielded faith for partisan ends.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 25 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Shipping data suggests that more crude oil is leaving the Gulf via a southern route close to the coast with Oman, a threat to the leverage Iran has exercised in recent months.
    Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The crux of the dispute surrounds the validity of a contract extension option for Mateta, one which Palace exercised in December 2024.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exerted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exerted. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster