1
as in careful
hard to please
he was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in rigorous
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards
the prep school's exacting standards for admission
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3
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the new recruits had to adjust themselves to the exacting discipline of military life
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4
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention
writing will always be an exacting task
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in demanding
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority
every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest
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2
as in imposing
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty
vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in extorting
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats
that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of exacting
Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
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
Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Each gemstone was set by hand in an exacting process by Bixler’s craftsmen.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Adjective
By his fourth season, the team had a losing record and players were complaining that Bradley was too exacting.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 17 Dec. 2024
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
Verb
The settlement was a result of a long-running antitrust case in which the two credit card network giants allegedly overcharged merchants by exacting excessive interchange fees, also called swipe fees.
—Bill Hardekopf, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Each gemstone was set by hand in an exacting process by Bixler’s craftsmen.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for exacting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exacting
Adjective
-
These concerns underscore the need for careful consideration of privacy rights when deploying such technology.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
15 Mar. 2025
-
To make the most of spring planting, start with site preparation and careful plant selection.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
14 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
State Department officials interview applicants and submit them to a rigorous screening that includes an FBI background check.—
Tazreena Sajjad,
The Conversation,
13 Mar. 2025
-
Professional gamers adhere to rigorous schedules to refine their craft.—
Adam Rumanek,
Rolling Stone,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
As college sports continues its rapid professionalization, the ACC is in a difficult spot.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Most of the files are scans of documents, and some are blurred or have become faint or difficult to read in the decades since Kennedy's assassination.—
Joel Shannon,
USA TODAY,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Global hiring can offer a fresh solution in these challenging times.—
James Peters,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
Reliability is particularly important and challenging as the impacts of climate change accelerate, with more frequent catastrophic weather events straining energy infrastructure.—
Mike Shriberg,
The Conversation,
10 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets around Syria including in the capital Damascus demanding protection for religious minorities following the Christmas tree burning, which took place in the city of Hama around 200 km north of Damascus last night.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
24 Dec. 2024
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Jodie Turner-Smith is demanding that her estranged husband Joshua Jackson pay her child and spousal support in their ongoing divorce.—
Edward Segarra,
USA TODAY,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At the imposing stone Hotel Pordoi, a former church school on the onetime Austrian border, at more than 7,000 feet, the xx plays on the stereo.—
Toby Skinner,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Temporarily suppressing our rational thought and imposing randomness supercharges unconscious processes.—
Hulan Hagen,
Forbes,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
One track in particular even predated both songs altogether.—
Marc Griffin,
VIBE.com,
17 Mar. 2025
-
As the band’s newest single begins to slide, a classic that helped launch the musicians to stardom is a huge hit once more, and the group flexes its selling power in particular on one ranking.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes,
17 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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However, the movie’s framing has widespread contemporary resonance, and an enormous overlap with how trans issues are discussed, particularly in how individuals who deviate from strict gender norms are so readily demonized by others.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2025
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Some of these laws, OpenAI warned, are modeled after strict European Union laws that OpenAI claimed the federal government should reject replicating due to alleged limits on innovation.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
13 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Exacting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exacting. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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