exhaustive

[ ig-zaws-tiv ]
/ ɪgˈzɔs tɪv /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR exhaustive ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

exhausting a subject, topic, etc.; comprehensive; thorough: He published an exhaustive study of Greek vases.
tending to exhaust or drain, as resources or strength: a protracted, exhaustive siege of illness.

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Origin of exhaustive

First recorded in 1780–90; exhaust + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM exhaustive

Words nearby exhaustive

exhaust-gas recirculation, exhausted, exhausting, exhaustion, exhaustion psychosis, exhaustive, exhaustless, exhedra, exhibit, exhibition, exhibition game
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to exhaustive

comprehensive, in-depth, thorough, intensive, full-scale, encyclopedic, sweeping, extensive, all-out, catholic, far-reaching, full, full-blown, out-and-out, profound, radical, thoroughgoing, total, full-dress, all-embracing

Example sentences from the Web for exhaustive

British Dictionary definitions for exhaustive

exhaustive
/ (ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv) /

adjective

comprehensive in scope; thoroughan exhaustive survey
tending to exhaust

Derived forms of exhaustive

exhaustively, adverbexhaustiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012