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.
While far from an exhaustive list, here are some ideas for celebrating the new year in Central Florida. Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Dec. 2024 Start by conducting an exhaustive competitor investigation. Boris Kreiman, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024 Jurors were presented with a wealth of hard evidence and exhaustive witness testimony to support the charges. Kyler Alvord, People.com, 17 Dec. 2024 The fatal shooting outside an investors’ conference sparked an exhaustive search, with New York police combing the city for evidence and poring through thousands of hours of video footage. John Miller, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024 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 5 Jan. 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
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