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as in exact
being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent gave him the precise amount that he owed him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word precise different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of precise are accurate, correct, exact, nice, and right. While all these words mean "conforming to fact, standard, or truth," precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

When would accurate be a good substitute for precise?

The words accurate and precise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

In what contexts can correct take the place of precise?

Although the words correct and precise have much in common, correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

When is it sensible to use exact instead of precise?

In some situations, the words exact and precise are roughly equivalent. However, exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

When could nice be used to replace precise?

The synonyms nice and precise are sometimes interchangeable, but nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

How do right and correct relate to one another, in the sense of precise?

Right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

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 precise Research published in the journal Fertility and Sterility found that this robot is 10 times more precise in preparing these embryo culture plates than humans. Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2025 But those missiles aren’t nearly as precise as drones and could cause many civilian casualties. Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025 Details on the precise theaters will be announced at a later date, according to an announcement from Netflix. Kate Aurthur, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025 That contrast, between how meticulously Reichardt builds her story and the way her protagonist pinballs through his, yields a remarkably precise exploration of hubris as a self-destructive force. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for precise
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precise
Adjective
  • World’s most advanced quantum clocks Quantum clocks provide very accurate timekeeping.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
  • November 04, 2025 When Wikipedia was founded in 2001, the idea that people around the world could come together to create an accurate online encyclopedia covering virtually any topic seemed far-fetched.
    Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • And the second season is set to be based on the prequel novel, correct?
    Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Instead of automatically filling the detergent measuring cup to the brim and adding it to your load of laundry, consult our guide to using the correct dose of detergent every time.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Kroger asking customers for exact change Though legally able to do so, Kroger so far is not refusing pennies or cash payments.
    Alexander Coolidge, USA Today, 3 Nov. 2025
  • While the exact names differ by brand, most follow a similar pattern.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • But the true freshman looked poised and undaunted, able to pick up a trio of fourth-down conversions with his arm and more positive yards with his legs.
    Quentin Corpuel, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
  • His portrayal of a pompous, yapping intellectual who's rotten to the core rings uncomfortably true, as do the performances of Thatcher and East as their characters nonverbally communicate their discomfort to each other.
    Dennis Perkins, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The work, led by Professor Zijian Li, confirms that the synergistic effect of K+ and C3N4 co-intercalation significantly reduces the electrostatic interaction between Zn2+ and the [VOn] layer, improves the specific capacity and cycling stability.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Get specific prompts to optimize emails, memos and presentations for tone, context and audience.
    Renée Onque, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The limits of logic To test whether this informational foundation could be simulated, the team relied on mathematical principles, including Gödel’s incompleteness theorem.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025
  • There’s no mathematical proof of that.
    Big Think, Big Think, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • When using hydrogen peroxide, wear protective gloves and eyewear to avoid irritation, ensure proper ventilation, and never mix it with bleach, ammonia, vinegar, or other cleaning agents.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Some of these technologies are essential for ensuring the proper functioning of the service or website and cannot be disabled, while others are optional but serve to enhance the user experience in various ways.
    Walden Green, Pitchfork, 24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Props and decor — like gold coins, dynamite and cigars — give the party that authentic western feel!
    Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Despite the stories being super heavy, Geralt has a sense of humor and wit about him that feels very authentic, because that’s how people move through trauma.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Precise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precise. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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