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
Thanks to the quality of the fish, word of mouth, foreign guidebooks, and now Moe’s exertions on Instagram, there are long lines at the door, especially on weekends.
—
David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Not everyone appreciated the exertions.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Ahmad plays Shah Latif, a British Pakistani actor, who, owing to the exertions of his faithful, often frustrated agent, Felicia (Weruche Opia), is improbably auditioning to be the next James Bond.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
That, plus an extra day to recover from their European exertions, with Forest also going to extra time and penalties in Denmark on Thursday, leads me to switch to a home win.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Mar. 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
Finally, tuckered out from our exertions, the five or six of us buddies retreated to a dark corner of my backyard to admire our handiwork.
—Monitor Contributors, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Aug. 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
David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Not everyone appreciated the exertions.
—Literary Hub, 13 May 2026
Ahmad plays Shah Latif, a British Pakistani actor, who, owing to the exertions of his faithful, often frustrated agent, Felicia (Weruche Opia), is improbably auditioning to be the next James Bond.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026
That, plus an extra day to recover from their European exertions, with Forest also going to extra time and penalties in Denmark on Thursday, leads me to switch to a home win.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Mar. 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
Finally, tuckered out from our exertions, the five or six of us buddies retreated to a dark corner of my backyard to admire our handiwork.
—Monitor Contributors, Christian Science Monitor, 29 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exertions
Noun
-
So many individual efforts just to keep the puck out of our net.—
Mark Anderson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Bodies; projects; efforts; ideals.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Fling has not directed a mainstage show at Goodspeed before, but he’s been deeply involved in every production there since one of his roles is as a line producer overseeing all the shows not just at the Opera House but at Goodspeed’s space for new works, the Terris Theatre in Chester.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
14 June 2026
-
Gutierrez said the jury would not privilege any particular documentary form, but would prioritize works that communicate genuine emotion and connect with viewers.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
Saliba had been a concern after playing through back pains during Arsenal’s Champions League Final loss.—
Fiifi Frimpong,
New York Daily News,
13 June 2026
-
However, while yellow journalism often resulted in articles that were exaggerated or misleading, TMZ usually takes pains to be rigorous and accurate in its reporting.—
Angelica Kalika,
The Conversation,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exertions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exertions. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
