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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Weil held an exacting view of the philosopher’s mandate. 
Robert Zaretsky, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 Lewis was a student of Alfred Brendel, who, in addition to being a renowned pianist, was also a famously exacting teacher. David Weininger, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 Based on the 2009 novel by Suzanne Allain, the film tells the story of the titular Mr. Malcolm, a very exacting bachelor in 1818 England with a long list of standards. Lakshmi Gandhi, NBC News, 30 June 2022 In the intervening years, helicopters have grown more powerful and reliable, and the helicopter services that contract with heli-ski outfitters have become more exacting in their training and protocols. Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 10 Apr. 2021 The transboundary nature of the grueling long-distance race, which many mushers believe to be more exacting than its higher-profile sibling, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, complicated operations during the pandemic. Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 3 May 2022 Waterston and Sam Fragoso, a close friend and collaborator of Bravo’s who contributed voiceover, commented on her exacting, singular, consistent visual style, from her very first short, Eat (2011), to her most recent for Miu Miu. Eliza Harper Wallace, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Mar. 2022 His vision and work ethic become more exacting, his drive to best himself at once breathtaking and worrisome. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2022 But much of the game’s appeal can be chalked up to players’ ability to create an increasingly exacting vision of how their Sims live, dress and eat. New York Times, 7 Feb. 2022 See More
Robert Zaretsky, WSJ, 3 Sep. 2022 Lewis was a student of Alfred Brendel, who, in addition to being a renowned pianist, was also a famously exacting teacher. David Weininger, BostonGlobe.com, 27 July 2022 Based on the 2009 novel by Suzanne Allain, the film tells the story of the titular Mr. Malcolm, a very exacting bachelor in 1818 England with a long list of standards. Lakshmi Gandhi, NBC News, 30 June 2022 In the intervening years, helicopters have grown more powerful and reliable, and the helicopter services that contract with heli-ski outfitters have become more exacting in their training and protocols. Marc Peruzzi, Outside Online, 10 Apr. 2021 The transboundary nature of the grueling long-distance race, which many mushers believe to be more exacting than its higher-profile sibling, the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, complicated operations during the pandemic. Zachariah Hughes, Anchorage Daily News, 3 May 2022 Waterston and Sam Fragoso, a close friend and collaborator of Bravo’s who contributed voiceover, commented on her exacting, singular, consistent visual style, from her very first short, Eat (2011), to her most recent for Miu Miu. Eliza Harper Wallace, Harper's BAZAAR, 25 Mar. 2022 His vision and work ethic become more exacting, his drive to best himself at once breathtaking and worrisome. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2022 But much of the game’s appeal can be chalked up to players’ ability to create an increasingly exacting vision of how their Sims live, dress and eat. New York Times, 7 Feb. 2022 See More 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
: expecting a lot from a person
an exacting teacher
exacting 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in demanding
hard to please he was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- demanding
- careful
- particular
- meticulous
- finicky
- finicking
- fastidious
- nice
- persnickety
- picky
- pernickety
- delicate
- finical
- fussy
- dainty
- selective
- choosy
- painstaking
- scrupulous
- critical
- discriminating
- discerning
- punctilious
- choosey
- fussbudgety
- insightful
- old-maidish
- captious
- knowledgeable
- faultfinding
- hypercritical
- overdemanding
- overcritical
- carping
- caviling
- peevish
- petulant
- prissy
- squeamish
- touchy
- prim
- ultrafastidious
- hyperfastidious
- queasy
- cavilling
- prickly
- queazy
- niminy-piminy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undemanding
- unfussy
- lackadaisical
- affable
- flexible
- lax
- lenient
- relaxed
- carefree
- unfastidious
- loose
- breezy
- permissive
- indiscriminating
- undiscriminating
- uncritical
- laid-back
- devil-may-care
- low-pressure
- happy-go-lucky
2
as in rigorous
not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards the prep school's exacting standards for admission Synonyms & Similar Words
- rigorous
- strict
- stringent
- uncompromising
- meticulous
- rigid
- inflexible
- conscientious
- steadfast
- painstaking
- scrupulous
- punctilious
- exact
- adamant
- relentless
- brassbound
- undeviating
- hard-line
- unflinching
- unbending
- determined
- stubborn
- unrelenting
- cast-iron
- tenacious
- unsparing
- demanding
- fussy
- tough
- implacable
- harsh
- close
- unyielding
- dogged
- severe
- stern
- single-minded
- resolved
- adamantine
- unappeasable
- firm
- hardened
- austere
- grim
- immovable
- hard
- flinty
- ironbound
- hard-hearted
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lax
- flexible
- loose
- compliant
- relaxed
- gentle
- easy
- lenient
- yielding
- slack
- acquiescent
- indulgent
- mild
- merciful
- pliant
- pliable
- compromising
- easygoing
- soft
- kindly
- negligent
- sloppy
- tolerant
- relenting
- slipshod
- neglectful
- slovenly
- pampering
- remiss
- spoiling
- unfussy
3
as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort the new recruits had to adjust themselves to the exacting discipline of military life Synonyms & Similar Words
- difficult
- challenging
- rigorous
- demanding
- tough
- formidable
- hard
- complicated
- testing
- heavy
- arduous
- rugged
- severe
- rough
- laborious
- strenuous
- intricate
- murderous
- effortful
- grueling
- backbreaking
- exhausting
- herculean
- complex
- painful
- tall
- sweaty
- toilsome
- serious
- killer
- stiff
- gruelling
- uphill
- elusive
- onerous
- brutal
- involved
- hellacious
- problematic
- moiling
- annoying
- stringent
- strict
- stubborn
- oppressive
- pick-and-shovel
- taxing
- tricky
- grim
- abstract
- abstruse
- burdensome
- trying
- recondite
- stressful
- bruising
- problematical
- labored
- tight
- irksome
- Augean
- troublesome
- thorny
- knotty
- vexatious
- opaque
- cruel
- hairy
- bothersome
- ticklish
- distressing
- spiny
- insoluble
- inhuman
- grievous
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- simple
- easy
- undemanding
- effortless
- achievable
- light
- clear
- gentle
- soft
- uncomplicated
- facile
- mindless
- cheap
- doable
- elementary
- soothing
- comforting
- smooth
- manageable
- relaxed
- friendly
- accessible
- painless
- user-friendly
- idiotproof
4
as in challenging
requiring much time, effort, or careful attention writing will always be an exacting task Synonyms & Similar Words
- challenging
- demanding
- difficult
- onerous
- arduous
- laborious
- taxing
- grueling
- tough
- burdensome
- hard
- killing
- toilsome
- testing
- persnickety
- gruelling
- rigorous
- formidable
- strenuous
- stringent
- herculean
- strict
- oppressive
- stern
- severe
- rigid
- trying
- rugged
- rough
- stiff
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undemanding
- light
- easy
- simple
- effortless
- unchallenging
- smooth
- facile
- nondemanding
exacting
2 of 2verb
1
as in requiring
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest Synonyms & Similar Words
- demanding
- requiring
- commanding
- requesting
- claiming
- asking
- wanting
- questing
- enjoining
- needing
- imposing
- necessitating
- taking
- insisting (on)
- pressing (for)
- clamoring (for)
- stipulating (for)
- warranting
- requisitioning
- badgering
- calling (for)
- harassing
- hounding
- dunning
- pleading (for)
- crying (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- yielding
- relinquishing
- surrendering
- giving up
2
as in imposing
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice Synonyms & Similar Words
- imposing
- charging
- levying
- fining
- assessing
- taxing
- putting
- compelling
- gouging
- penalizing
- milking
- inflicting
- extorting
- docking
- mulcting
- laying
- wreaking
- forcing
- excising
- coercing
- wringing
- relaying
- shaking down
- squeezing
- bleeding
- wresting
- fleecing
- skinning
- setting
- reimposing
- reapplying
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- diminishing
- lessening
- forgiving
- remitting
- ignoring
- disregarding
- releasing
- abating
- excusing
- condoning
- pardoning
- glossing (over)
- glozing (over)
3
as in extorting
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary Synonyms & Similar Words
- extorting
- compelling
- gouging
- squeezing
- milking
- wringing
- coercing
- forcing
- swindling
- cheating
- bleeding
- wresting
- racketeering
- fleecing
- skinning
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of exacting are burdensome, onerous, and oppressive. While all these words mean "imposing hardship," exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding.
an exacting employer
In some situations, the words burdensome and exacting are roughly equivalent. However, burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain.
burdensome responsibilities
Although the words onerous and exacting have much in common, onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful.
the onerous task of cleaning up the mess
While the synonyms oppressive and exacting are close in meaning, oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed.
the oppressive tyranny of a police state