exacting

[ig-zak-ting] / ɪgˈzæk tɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

demanding

Synonyms

STRONGEST

harsh imperious onerous painstaking precise rigid rigorous strict stringent

STRONG

taxing trying

WEAK

burdensome by the book careful critical difficult exigent finicky fussy grievous hard hypercritical nit-picking oppressive particular persnickety picky severe stern tough unsparing weighty

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless easy easygoing flexible inexact lenient loose mild soft tolerant yielding

WEAK

giving lending

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Enphase is still working on its design, but is confident it will be able to meet the tech companies’ exacting standards.

From Barron's • Jun. 4, 2026

"This action supports the welfare of American children by exacting real consequences for child support delinquency under existing federal law," the department said in a statement.

From BBC • May 7, 2026

Former employees say Gerko is an exacting, hands-on manager.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

Across the way, skateboarders do their thing on the Neighbors Skate Shop ramp, flipping and flexing, making sculptures out of their bodies in midair, while others double-dutch or Hula-Hoop in exacting harmony.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2026

All that afternoon she directed toward me calculated words that spawned in my mind a horde of invisible demons bent upon exacting vengeance for what I had done.

From "Black Boy" by Richard Wright

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