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as in exact
being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent gave him the precise amount that he owed him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word precise different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of precise are accurate, correct, exact, nice, and right. While all these words mean "conforming to fact, standard, or truth," precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

When would accurate be a good substitute for precise?

The words accurate and precise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

In what contexts can correct take the place of precise?

Although the words correct and precise have much in common, correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

When is it sensible to use exact instead of precise?

In some situations, the words exact and precise are roughly equivalent. However, exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

When could nice be used to replace precise?

The synonyms nice and precise are sometimes interchangeable, but nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

How do right and correct relate to one another, in the sense of precise?

Right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of precise State of play: Quarterback Jared Goff was precise once again, completing 18-of-22 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and zero turnovers. Joe Guillen, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024 Pressure tubes blow down into each chamber in precise amounts distributing it more evenly, eliminating cold spots. Marni Jameson, arkansasonline.com, 2 Nov. 2024 Invest time in learning how to create precise, context-rich prompts that guide AI to produce useful, accurate and engaging content that tells your industry’s story accurately. Marcus Squier, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 Their business model relies on the sale of precise targeting. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for precise 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for precise
Adjective
  • Combining genetics with historical information and archeological evidence allows researchers to paint both a more complete and more accurate picture, and demonstrates how teamwork from different disciplines can unearth rich, complex stories.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
  • This is where the LG G4 really excels, with colors that are just as accurate and much closer to covering the full digital cinema color space.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • If Lynch is correct, and McCaffrey’s legs are, too, this team will make the playoffs and push for the title.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • This indicator was also correct about the prior two Trump races.
    Matt Egan, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Unfortunately, for this exact reason, the studios decided to steer clear of the second weekend of November, which means there’s nothing else to talk about.
    Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2024
  • Scientists are still debating the exact nature of the core’s material.
    Benjamin Roulston, Discover Magazine, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The movie’s true set pieces are the professorial villain’s ostentatious monologues using fast food, musical plagiarism, and Monopoly as metaphors to point out how modern religions are just conspicuous iterations of what’s come before.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
  • Overly precocious George jumps from the train to the countryside and, in true Dickensian fashion, encounters some helpful people as well as some unsavory types on his treacherous trek back home.
    Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The provision for credit losses rose to $1.7 million, up from $100 thousand in the same period the previous year, primarily due to increases in specific reserves and projected unemployment rates.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
  • This mount holds the physical controls and connectors specific to each earcup, including a power button and USB-C port on the left and a four-way mini-joystick on the right.
    PCMAG, PCMAG, 12 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • But his instinct is that the deeper mathematical description of nature from which space-time emerges will touch all of physics in some way, even with the mildest of ripples.
    Charlie Wood, WIRED, 3 Nov. 2024
  • Routing of traffic is essential and currently tends to be solved via symbolic or traditional mathematical means.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Also helpful is the kind of peer pressure among veterans who lead by example in terms of getting the proper amount of rest and recovery.
    Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Creators will have to complete a questionnaire for each project in advance so that Roblox can ensure proper categorization.
    Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The rating never came though — Prey played too fast and loose with comics canon to court fans still starved for authentic adaptations, yet leaned on comics references hard enough to possibly alienate newcomers.
    Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2024
  • Pivoting to outdoor recreation has created a new kind of boom that balances the region’s natural beauty with the authentic grittiness that put Leadville on the map.
    James Dziezynski, Outside Online, 10 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near precise

Cite this Entry

“Precise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/precise. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on precise

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