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.
Ko enters this week with 22 victories and as only the 25th player to earn the requisite 27 points in arguably the most exacting Hall of Fame qualification system in sports. Edgar Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2025 And his budgets, then as now, tended to reflect more exotic materials and more exacting processes. Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025 Alexander-Arnold is not unique in being held to a different, more exacting standard than the vast majority. Rory Smith, The Athletic, 19 Jan. 2025 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 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 3 Feb. 2025.

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
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