- present participle of exact.
exacting
Americanadjective
-
rigid or severe in demands or requirements.
an exacting teacher.
-
requiring close application or attention.
an exacting task.
-
given to or characterized by exaction; extortionate.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exacting
Explanation
Use the adjective exacting to describe something or someone very precise or strict in its requirements. If your teacher has exacting standards about spelling and punctuation, you better carefully check your final paper. An exacting person expects things to be, well, exact. For this reason, demanding is a good synonym. Friends who are exacting might let you have it if you show up a minute or two late. Some exacting people are extremely selective about what they eat, rejecting anything that doesn't meet their complicated standards of nutrition and taste.
Vocabulary lists containing exacting
Vocabulary from The Articles of Confederation
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30 GRE Words Beginning with "E" and "F"
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Letters to a Young Poet
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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.
Buffered by wealth and social position, Darwin was able to reconcile, like few of his peers, the secluded life of a country squire with the exacting demands of scientific work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
“Interiors by Stewart-Gulrajani merge architecture and artistry with exacting precision. Vaulted open-beam ceilings, vast picture windows, and refined finishes infuse each room with air, light, and composure,” the description added.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
Anderson’s score work is planned to exacting detail.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2026
The government's "ambitious target" to halve the gap was "right and welcome", she added, but said it had to be "more exacting" about how to achieve it.
From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026
They had mellowed with the years, however, and were now more tolerant, exacting only the dutiful homage they felt to be their due as conquerors.
From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
