exhaustive

adjective

ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv 

: including all possibilities : thorough

conducted an exhaustive search

exhaustively adverb

exhaustiveness noun

exhaustivity

ig-ˌzȯ-ˈsti-və-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• all-out
• clean
• complete
• comprehensive
• full-scale
• out-and-out
• thorough
• thoroughgoing
• total

Examples of exhaustive in a Sentence

The list was long but not exhaustive.

after an exhaustive search of our house, we still hadn't found the cat

Recent Examples on the Web

Traditionally, Emery uses exhaustive methods to instil his teaching into players and, off the field, prefers to keep a distance. —Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

Bárbara Enríquez, the production designer, and Carolina Caicedo, the producer, are prime examples; both speak passionately about the exhaustive work done so far. —Fernanda Pérez Sánchez, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024

Here are the other current and former officials in Patel's crosshairs, according to the book, which notes that the list is not exhaustive: Michael Atkinson: former Inspector General of the Intelligence Community. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 2 Dec. 2024

There is also an active counter-trend ‘buy’ signal on the weekly chart that increases the chances that today’s gap down is exhaustive. —Katie Stockton, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

exhaustive

adjective

ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv 

: trying all possibilities : thorough

an exhaustive search

exhaustively adverb

exhaustiveness noun