as in applies
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 exerts
Alicia Silverstone, in her most enduring performance, plays Cher Horowitz, a popular high schooler who exerts her influence through matchmaking and giving a makeover to the new kid in town.
—
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Still, California’s much higher share of students facing these hardships and attending public schools — rather than being absorbed into private ones — exerts a downward pressure on statewide scores.
—Jill Stegman, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
That ice exerts enormous weight—ice can add 500 pounds of weight to power lines, according to the Air Force Safety Center.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 26 Jan. 2026
How China exerts its influence across the globe Start with the political architecture.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
My agonizing over a coin toss illustrates the basic distortion that gambling exerts on spectating.
—Rand Richards Cooper, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
The team also uncovered how CISTR-ACT exerts its influence.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
The lengthy arguments focused on whether the FTC, and similar multiheaded agencies created by Congress, exerts the power of the executive branch, the legislative branch, or a combination of both, and whether a president can be barred from firing at-will a head of one of those agencies.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 Dec. 2025
Experts were split on whether the language exerts undue power on the judicial branch.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 8 Dec. 2025
Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Still, California’s much higher share of students facing these hardships and attending public schools — rather than being absorbed into private ones — exerts a downward pressure on statewide scores.
—Jill Stegman, Mercury News, 5 Feb. 2026
That ice exerts enormous weight—ice can add 500 pounds of weight to power lines, according to the Air Force Safety Center.
—Andrea Thompson, Scientific American, 26 Jan. 2026
How China exerts its influence across the globe Start with the political architecture.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 11 Jan. 2026
My agonizing over a coin toss illustrates the basic distortion that gambling exerts on spectating.
—Rand Richards Cooper, Hartford Courant, 8 Jan. 2026
The team also uncovered how CISTR-ACT exerts its influence.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Dec. 2025
The lengthy arguments focused on whether the FTC, and similar multiheaded agencies created by Congress, exerts the power of the executive branch, the legislative branch, or a combination of both, and whether a president can be barred from firing at-will a head of one of those agencies.
—Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 8 Dec. 2025
Experts were split on whether the language exerts undue power on the judicial branch.
—Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 8 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exerts
Verb
-
But ultrarunning officials worry WADA may not be considering how point two—the ability to cause harm—applies to the unique demands of the sport.—
Dan England,
Outside,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Avoiding paying the tax for this season delays when the Magic could get hit with the repeater tax, which applies to teams that have been above the league’s tax line for at least three of the previous four seasons.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The committee uses 12 criteria to determine who belongs in the field and where teams should be seeded.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Some suburbs are considering microtransit alternatives to DART, similar to the on-demand system Arlington uses in lieu of mass transit.—
Lilly Kersh,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Together with Iran’s ability to threaten traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, Tehran wields outsize power to inflict global economic pain.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Elsewhere, Mario and Peach navigate deadly traps in Bowser's castle, Luigi dons his Frog Suit, and Yoshi wields a Super Scope 6.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
25 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exerts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exerts. Accessed 18 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
