exhaustive

adjective

ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv How to pronounce exhaustive (audio)
: including all possibilities : thorough
conducted an exhaustive search
exhaustively adverb
exhaustiveness noun
exhaustivity noun

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
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.
Join 68 others in the comments View Comments As CNN previously reported, Canada is already preparing to retaliate with an exhaustive list of tariffs on goods made in America, including everything from steel, orange juice, pet food to alcoholic beverages like Jack Daniels whiskey. Matt Egan, CNN, 24 Jan. 2025 Ball has undergone the entirety of his exhaustive recovery process with the Bulls. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2025 Martinez had never heard of the exhaustive body of codes controlling his living space. Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2025 An exhaustive study of more than 30,000 adults with ADHD found a reduction in life expectancy for men between 4.5 and 9 years, and for women, between 6.5 and 11 years, according to a statement released on the study, which was published Jan. 23 in the British Journal of Psychiatry. Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for exhaustive 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhaustive was circa 1789

Dictionary Entries Near exhaustive

Cite this Entry

“Exhaustive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustive. Accessed 1 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

exhaustive

adjective
ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv How to pronounce exhaustive (audio)
: trying all possibilities : thorough
an exhaustive search
exhaustively adverb
exhaustiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on exhaustive

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!