exhausting 1 of 2

Definition of exhaustingnext
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exhausting

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verb

present participle of exhaust

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 exhausting
Adjective
Fighting cancer is exhausting for everyone involved. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026 At the same time, many Americans report feeling trapped inside an increasingly exhausting healthcare landscape marked by insurance battles, physician shortages, long wait times and growing uncertainty around affordability. Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026 For the past three years, Grant lived under the exhausting gravity reserved for elite hitters. Ira Gorawara, New York Times, 15 May 2026 With great power comes great responsibility, and great responsibility sounds exhausting! Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 15 May 2026 Being in Rachel’s skin was emotionally grueling and physically exhausting. Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 May 2026 Hot, humid and exhausting – a heroic effort backed up by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and a host of federal agencies. Hank Tester, CBS News, 12 May 2026 This is even truer in an entertainment business that has been in exhausting flux — the toll of the pandemic, of industry-wide strikes, of unprecedented media consolidation. Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 May 2026 Instead of racing between landmarks, travelers are prioritizing mindfulness, sustainability, regional culture and experiences that feel restorative rather than exhausting. Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 11 May 2026
Verb
Sliding effortlessly from incisive observer to chaotic flirt to exhausting narcissist, Firstman is never not in on the joke. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 May 2026 Martinez on Thursday did not discuss details of the plan but said the city was exhausting all its options while seeking more ways to cut costs. Abby Church, Houston Chronicle, 30 Apr. 2026 In some ways, the Wolfpack were already destined for a reset, with veterans like Tre Holloman, Darrion Williams, Quadir Copeland and Ven-Allen Lubin all exhausting their eligibility. Brendan Marks, New York Times, 15 Apr. 2026 Instead, America seems to be exhausting itself and its arsenals in the Middle East. Andreas Kluth, Twin Cities, 14 Apr. 2026 The Pernes just couldn’t bring themselves to close the store, at least not without exhausting every other option first. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026 Both countries aim to counter cheap, high-volume threats without exhausting high-value interceptors. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Apr. 2026 Most people who reach out to Gahl do so after exhausting nearly every other option and cycling through multiple specialists and medical centers. Alexandra Sifferlin, STAT, 31 Mar. 2026 In addition to exhausting reporters and scrambling the news cycle, episodes like this have fueled speculation that people close to the president are feeding off the chaos. Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhausting
Adjective
  • River, stream, lake, ocean, or pond–Southerners know that sometimes the best balm for a fraught mind or stressful season is a quick trip to the nearest body of water.
    Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
  • The classic white color will go with just about anything in my closet, and the soft cotton fabric looks incredibly cozy for long, stressful workdays.
    Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026
Adjective
  • Stenton and his team carried out an exhaustive analysis, comparing DNA from the remains with living descendants of every steward known to serve aboard the ships.
    Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
  • Colloff’s reporting is, as usual, dogged and exhaustive, and the book reads like a thriller, but never sacrifices the humanity of the people Skalnik hurt.
    Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • These design aspects allow users to operate it for extended periods without tiring or switching between different power outlets.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
  • This helps each step feel lighter and easier, diminishing fatigue and letting the wearer venture out farther without tiring.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Plant the cutting in well-draining soil in a 12-inch tall pot that’s about 6 inches wide so the roots have plenty of room to grow.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 19 May 2026
  • More turbulent water draining from the desert via seasonal drainage channels called wadis might have brought others.
    Geoff Emberling, The Conversation, 19 May 2026
Adjective
  • When Thomson went through a difficult divorce, in 2014, Djena would often check in on her, showing up at her door with food.
    Yudhijit Bhattacharjee, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • Crow-Armstrong had just failed to make a highly difficult, leaping catch at the wall.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026
Adjective
  • Hosted on the deck of every Holland America cruise ship at the time of departure, this long-standing maritime tradition has been reimagined as an inclusive celebration featuring entertainment, music, food and beverages for guests to enjoy as the ship leaves port on the first day of every voyage.
    Claudia Alarcón, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • Companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple have scrapped degree requirements to be more inclusive—but Goodwill CEO Steve Preston says the reality on the ground looks very different.
    Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • On her lunch break, mama walks us over to the library still wearing her scrubs.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 May 2026
  • Laneda taught Sunday school, and her sons were Cornerstone ushers, wearing white gloves and delivering a welcome address to visitors at the start of Sunday services.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Thankfully, cleaning a mattress isn't hard to do or very time consuming.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
  • Public health agencies have launched multilingual warnings, including radio ads, flyers, and PSAs in several languages, urging residents to avoid consuming wild mushrooms.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Exhausting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhausting. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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