exigent

[ ek-si-juhnt ]

/ ˈɛk sɪ dʒənt /

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See synonyms for: exigent / exigently on Thesaurus.com

adjective

requiring immediate action or aid; urgent; pressing.

requiring a great deal, or more than is reasonable.

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Also exigeant .

Origin of exigent

1400–50; late Middle English <Latin exigent- (stem of exigēns) (present participle of exigere to drive out, demand), equivalent to ex-ex-¹ + -ig- (combining form of agere to drive) + -ent--ent

OTHER WORDS FROM exigent

ex·i·gent·ly, adverbnon·ex·i·gent, adjectivenon·ex·i·gent·ly, adverbun·ex·i·gent, adjective

un·ex·i·gent·ly, adverb

Words nearby exigent

exhortative, exhume, ex hypothesi, exigeant, exigency, exigent, exigible, exiguous, exilarch, exile, exilic

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use exigent in a sentence

The researchers expected single people to lower their standards given the exigent circumstances.
What We Learned About Relationships During the Pandemic|Belinda Luscombe|July 6, 2021|Time
That is because cases of fleeing misdemeanants will almost always also involve a recognized exigent circumstance — such as a risk of escape, destruction of evidence, or harm to others — that will still justify warrantless entry into a home.
Supreme Court tightens, slightly, rules for police entering a home without a warrant|Robert Barnes|June 23, 2021|Washington Post
The need to accelerate the vaccination program before the lure of summer intercedes has never been more exigent—nor has the imperative to remain cautious and patient, even when the end appears to be in sight.
Is the U.S. COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout Working? We're Not Sure Yet|Chris Wilson|April 8, 2021|Time
Jones’s omnibus bill includes the repeal of the bill of rights but also a body camera requirement, a use-of-force policy that bans no-knock warrants except under “exigent circumstances” and bans chokeholds, and other changes.
Push for police reform creates rift in Maryland’s Democratic caucus|Ovetta Wiggins|February 25, 2021|Washington Post

Officers deserve “substantial discretion to analyze the situation, as the court has always said, but do require a showing of actual exigent circumstances,” Fisher said.
Supreme Court considers giving police greater powers when pursuing suspects|Robert Barnes|February 24, 2021|Washington Post
He counsels me not to be exigent in my terms; if he knew me better, perhaps, he would not have deemed the advice so necessary.
Barrington|Charles James Lever
Are we too exigent when we implore the whites to preach by example?
South America To-day|Georges Clemenceau
The more modest and simple the Rav, the haughtier and more exigent the Rebbetzin.
Simon Eichelkatz; The Patriarch|Ulrich Frank
Nay, because Slavery is powerful, because the Enterprise is difficult, therefore is the duty of all more exigent.
Charles Sumner; his complete works, volume 5 (of 20)|Charles Sumner
But it is a long and exigent part, and there were times in the play when her physical strength was overtaxed.
Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 156, June 18, 1919|Various

British Dictionary definitions for exigent

exigent

/ (ˈɛksɪdʒənt) /

adjective

urgent; pressing

exacting; demanding

Derived forms of exigent

exigently, adverb

Word Origin for exigent

C15: from Latin exigere to drive out, weigh out, from agere to drive, compel

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

exigent

Origin of exigent

OTHER WORDS FROM exigent

Words nearby exigent

Words related to exigent

How to use exigent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for exigent

Derived forms of exigent

Word Origin for exigent