SKIP TO CONTENT

exacting

Use the adjective exacting to describe something or someone very precise or strict in its requirements. If your teacher has exacting standards about spelling and punctuation, you better carefully check your final paper.

An exacting person expects things to be, well, exact. For this reason, demanding is a good synonym. Friends who are exacting might let you have it if you show up a minute or two late. Some exacting people are extremely selective about what they eat, rejecting anything that doesn't meet their complicated standards of nutrition and taste.

Definitions of exacting
  1. adjective
    severe and unremitting in making demands
    “an exacting instructor”
    synonyms: stern, strict
    demanding
    requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill
  2. adjective
    requiring precise accuracy
    “an exacting job”
    synonyms: exigent
    demanding
    requiring more than usually expected or thought due; especially great patience and effort and skill
  3. adjective
    having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
    “certain highly specialized xerophytes are extremely exacting in their requirements”
    synonyms: fastidious
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    unfastidious
    not exacting in nutritional requirements
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘exacting'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family
EDITOR'S CHOICE

Look up exacting for the last time

Close your vocabulary gaps with personalized learning that focuses on teaching the words you need to know.

VocabTrainer - Vocabulary.com's Vocabulary Trainer