adjective
exacting
ihg-ZAK-tihng
Exacting (adjective) means demanding a lot from people; hard to satisfy. Example: “Her exacting boss checked every report line by line.”
adjective
1
Demanding a lot from people; hard to satisfy.
"Her exacting boss checked every report line by line."
2
Requiring great care, precision, or effort to do properly.
"Surgery is exacting work that leaves no room for sloppiness."
How to use exacting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishVery demanding — of a person, job, or standard.
Common pairings
exacting standards
exacting boss
exacting work
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more exacting
- Superlative
- most exacting
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her _____ boss checked every report line by line.
Etymology
From exact + the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for exacting
See all rhymes for exacting →Frequently asked questions
What does “exacting” mean?
The word “exacting” means demanding a lot from people; hard to satisfy. In plain terms, very demanding — of a person, job, or standard.
How do you pronounce “exacting”?
“Exacting” is pronounced ihg-ZAK-tihng (/ɪɡˈzæktɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “exacting” in a sentence?
Here is “exacting” used in a sentence: “Her exacting boss checked every report line by line.”
What part of speech is “exacting”?
“Exacting” is an adjective.
How many meanings does “exacting” have?
“Exacting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: demanding a lot from people; hard to satisfy.
