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
The effort Minnesota exerted on the defensive end and the glass is exhausting.
—
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
Villa have rarely exerted themselves but largely won comfortably anyway, barring the October aberration of a 2-1 loss away to Go Ahead Eagles of the Netherlands in the league phase.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Proponents of citizen journalism saw the control exerted by a few professionals over the news agenda as problematic and hoped that bringing more contributors to the process would lead to news coverage that was more representative of the general public’s issues and concerns.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The meters use electrical conductivity or tensiometer tubes that measure the suction exerted by the soil on the water, which indicates the soil moisture available to plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Vince still exerted autocratic control.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Similarly, the team also found that, while in space, astronauts actually exerted more force than necessary to grip objects because their brains still expected the presence of gravity.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
After returning to office in 2010, Orbán swiftly exerted control over the media.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors presented evidence of the physical and emotional abuse and control that Lee Milne exerted during their 18-month married life leading up to the death on July 27, 2023, in Dundee, Scotland.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 3 May 2026
Villa have rarely exerted themselves but largely won comfortably anyway, barring the October aberration of a 2-1 loss away to Go Ahead Eagles of the Netherlands in the league phase.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Proponents of citizen journalism saw the control exerted by a few professionals over the news agenda as problematic and hoped that bringing more contributors to the process would lead to news coverage that was more representative of the general public’s issues and concerns.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The meters use electrical conductivity or tensiometer tubes that measure the suction exerted by the soil on the water, which indicates the soil moisture available to plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Vince still exerted autocratic control.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Similarly, the team also found that, while in space, astronauts actually exerted more force than necessary to grip objects because their brains still expected the presence of gravity.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
After returning to office in 2010, Orbán swiftly exerted control over the media.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors presented evidence of the physical and emotional abuse and control that Lee Milne exerted during their 18-month married life leading up to the death on July 27, 2023, in Dundee, Scotland.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exerted
Verb
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This perk is automatically applied during check out, no code needed.—
Meaghan Kenny,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 May 2026
-
Their lip tint is red and thickly applied.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Two snakes, believed to be cobras, were used in the show, officials said.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Today, the same tools are being used by state actors for geopolitical propaganda.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But McCluskie and other Democratic lawmakers said the group, which has wielded significant influence over the legislature and the state through its ballot campaigns, should respect the truce reached between the energy industry and the environmentalist community.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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He's fought orcs from horseback in Middle-earth, explored the final frontier on the Starship Enterprise, and wielded dual machine guns in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but now Karl Urban is really in the thick of it.—
James Grebey,
Time,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
If exercised, the player’s fifth year becomes fully guaranteed at a rate calculated based on their position, playing time and whether they have been selected to one or multiple Pro Bowls.—
Daniel Popper,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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There was a time when Florida’s GOP standard-bearers exercised independent judgment without fear of reprisal from a single individual.—
Jim Paladino,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exerted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exerted. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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