as in applying
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 exerting
Completing an easy, accomplishable responsibility lets workers still feel productive without exerting too much mental effort.
—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
The pinafore-style dress was in a twee ditsy print and flowed well past her knees, while a leather belt sat happily on her waist without exerting effort to cinch.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
Ackman is one of the loudest hedge fund investors out there, exerting enormous influence through social media, podcasts and media interviews.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
Common traits like height or blood pressure are influenced by variations at thousands of locations in the genome, each exerting a tiny effect.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026
Though both are from different sets of parents, the estranged brothers keep being brought in and out of each other’s lives due to death and other circumstances, with Ruben exerting a disturbing hold on Niall.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2026
So lunar gravity was exerting more of a pull on the spacecraft than Earth's.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The marketplace itself is exerting no discipline whatsoever.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
Much later, Russia found another means of exerting control over the Persian crown, loaning millions of rubles to its rulers, like Mozaffar ed-Din Shah, who reigned from 1896-1902 and needed capital to fund his lavish lifestyle.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
The pinafore-style dress was in a twee ditsy print and flowed well past her knees, while a leather belt sat happily on her waist without exerting effort to cinch.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 9 Apr. 2026
Ackman is one of the loudest hedge fund investors out there, exerting enormous influence through social media, podcasts and media interviews.
—Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 7 Apr. 2026
Common traits like height or blood pressure are influenced by variations at thousands of locations in the genome, each exerting a tiny effect.
—Megan Molteni, STAT, 7 Apr. 2026
Though both are from different sets of parents, the estranged brothers keep being brought in and out of each other’s lives due to death and other circumstances, with Ruben exerting a disturbing hold on Niall.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2026
So lunar gravity was exerting more of a pull on the spacecraft than Earth's.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2026
The marketplace itself is exerting no discipline whatsoever.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2026
Much later, Russia found another means of exerting control over the Persian crown, loaning millions of rubles to its rulers, like Mozaffar ed-Din Shah, who reigned from 1896-1902 and needed capital to fund his lavish lifestyle.
—Daniel Thomas Potts, The Conversation, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exerting
Verb
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As of now, Imam has no plans to create a think tank or a second campus, even though those had seemed like good ideas when applying for the grant.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
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In a separate but related order issued the same day, the court granted Lara’s motion to exceed the $1 million statutory cap on damages under Colorado’s Health Care Availability Act, finding that applying the cap would be unfair under the circumstances.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This interactive balance board connects to a free app where your body becomes the controller, using movement to play engaging games.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2026
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Mayor Karen Bass said officers will also expand their presence in the area by placing LAPD vehicles in high-visibility locations and using license plate readers in high-risk burglary areas.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Her The Kindred’s Curse Saga series follows healer Diem Bellator as the search for her missing mother pulls her into a growing civil war between the oppressed mortals of Emarion and the magic-wielding demigods known as the Descended.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
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Before his death, Mikhail had told sheriff’s deputies that he had been jumped in September by eight gun-wielding individuals, including Elijah, at the YMCA basketball courts near Oak Ridge High School.—
Silas Morgan,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Even exercising aboard the ISS could be dangerous if someone’s grip were to slip.—
Chelsea Gohd,
Space.com,
20 Apr. 2026
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Research tells us that more students exercising their right to school choice will lead to more students enrolling and graduating from college.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exerting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exerting. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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