as in efforts
the active use of energy in producing a result
the number of blueberries that we were finding was hardly worth the exertion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 exertions
Some of Goldsworthy’s art has also required strenuous exertions.
—
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Vaccarello, who was born and raised in Belgium to Sicilian parents, spends a month in Los Angeles twice each year, usually in March and November, a recuperation from the semiannual exertions of the women’s collection.
—Rob Haskell, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
The little girl began to feel drowsy after her exertions at the swimming pool and decided to curl up beside her.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
The male shadowed her, shivering after her full-bodied exertions above sandy pits where ripples of water flowed through.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025
But the exhibition also shows that, even if only briefly, the exertions of Black people themselves brought McCabe’s vision to fruition.
—Caleb Gayle, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Later Renaissance masters were savvier about how gravity works on the human body, but no one was better at painting the harsh, mindless pull of it, or hinting at the secret exertions in the act of standing.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024
Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Vaccarello, who was born and raised in Belgium to Sicilian parents, spends a month in Los Angeles twice each year, usually in March and November, a recuperation from the semiannual exertions of the women’s collection.
—Rob Haskell, Vogue, 20 Oct. 2025
The little girl began to feel drowsy after her exertions at the swimming pool and decided to curl up beside her.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
The male shadowed her, shivering after her full-bodied exertions above sandy pits where ripples of water flowed through.
—Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025
But the exhibition also shows that, even if only briefly, the exertions of Black people themselves brought McCabe’s vision to fruition.
—Caleb Gayle, The Atlantic, 17 Dec. 2024
Later Renaissance masters were savvier about how gravity works on the human body, but no one was better at painting the harsh, mindless pull of it, or hinting at the secret exertions in the act of standing.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exertions
Noun
-
In the aftermath of the 2007-09 Great Recession, Warsh — then a Fed governor — objected to some of the central bank’s efforts to help the struggling economy by pushing down rates even though unemployment exceeded 9%.—
Paul Wiseman,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Fortunately, today, Luna and Chiron are supporting your efforts to review boundaries, discuss shared bills, and generally keep the focus on fairness.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
All those years of spilt juice and milk, of sandy or muddy footprints, of hands sticky from snacks and art works—no deep cleaning would make the fabric look new again.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The play concerns an average guy named Berenger (a character name that Ionesco used in other works, and who seems to share some background details with the playwright) who sees the people around him acting strangely and spouting odd sentiments.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
After a whole season exploring the pains of being an illegitimate child and fears of pregnancy, Sophie and Benedict are now free to have children that would be welcomed warmly into society.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
-
But these are the standard-issue growing pains the NHL routinely beats into developing rosters.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exertions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exertions. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
