exacting

adjective

ex·​act·​ing ig-ˈzak-tiŋ How to pronounce exacting (audio)
1
: tryingly or unremittingly severe in making demands
2
: requiring careful attention and precision
exactingly adverb
exactingness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for exacting

onerous, burdensome, oppressive, exacting mean imposing hardship.

onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.

the onerous task of cleaning up the mess

burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.

burdensome responsibilities

oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed.

the oppressive tyranny of a police state

exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.

an exacting employer

Examples of exacting in a Sentence

He has very exacting standards. he was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The painter’s attempts to capture reality — so exacting, so careful, so prepared — end in what looks like failure. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024 The French have the historical edge, at least of topiary in its most exacting forms, with the grand formal gardens at the Palace of Versailles and swaths of rounded, bubbling topiary at the gardens of Marqueyssac. Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024 Well, ladies and gentlemen, still inspired by the success of California Heat, the Food team is delighted to be back this year with more brand-new spice mixes that will surely thrill the most exacting and heat-loving of Angeleno cooks. Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2024 A lot of great cinema is made by happy accidents: certain intangible chemistries and tricks of timing that can’t be calculated even by the most exacting auteur. Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for exacting 

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of exact entry 1

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of exacting was in 1634

Dictionary Entries Near exacting

Cite this Entry

“Exacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exacting. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

exacting

adjective
ex·​act·​ing ig-ˈzak-tiŋ How to pronounce exacting (audio)
: making many or difficult demands upon a person
an exacting task
an exacting teacher
exactingly adverb
exactingness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on exacting

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!