exacting

adjective

ex·​act·​ing ig-ˈzak-tiŋ 

1

: tryingly or unremittingly severe in making demands

2

: requiring careful attention and precision

exactingly

ig-ˈzak-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

exactingness noun

Synonyms

• choosy
• choosey
• dainty
• delicate
• demanding
• fastidious
• finical
• finicking
• finicky
• fussbudgety
• fussy
• nice
• old-maidish
• particular
• pernickety [chiefly British]
• persnickety
• picky

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

The painter’s attempts to capture reality — so exacting, so careful, so prepared — end in what looks like failure. —Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 23 Aug. 2024

The French have the historical edge, at least of topiary in its most exacting forms, with the grand formal gardens at the Palace of Versailles and swaths of rounded, bubbling topiary at the gardens of Marqueyssac. —Sophie Elmhirst, The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2024

Well, ladies and gentlemen, still inspired by the success of California Heat, the Food team is delighted to be back this year with more brand-new spice mixes that will surely thrill the most exacting and heat-loving of Angeleno cooks. —Daniel Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2024

A lot of great cinema is made by happy accidents: certain intangible chemistries and tricks of timing that can’t be calculated even by the most exacting auteur. —Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of exact entry 1

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

exacting

adjective

ex·​act·​ing ig-ˈzak-tiŋ 

: making many or difficult demands upon a person

an exacting task

an exacting teacher

exactingly

-tiŋ-lē 

adverb

exactingness noun