exhaustive

adjective

ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv 

: including all possibilities : thorough

conducted an exhaustive search

exhaustively adverb

exhaustiveness noun

exhaustivity

ig-ˌzȯ-ˈsti-və-tē 

noun

Synonyms

• all-out
• clean
• complete
• comprehensive
• full-scale
• out-and-out
• thorough
• thoroughgoing
• total

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

While not an exhaustive list, the following ideas aim to spark discussion and explore strategies for ensuring DEI remains a priority, even in politically volatile times. —Esade Business & Law School, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2025

But given the horror show that was 2024, Getz wanted the team’s managerial search to be exhaustive. —Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025

The exhaustive, concours-level restoration was completed in 1966, just in time for Nowak to enter that year’s Vintage Sports Car Club of America races in Connecticut. —Howard Walker, Robb Report, 17 Feb. 2025

This peek into the complicated world of affordable-housing preservation and creation isn’t meant to be exhaustive. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

exhaustive

adjective

ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv 

: trying all possibilities : thorough

an exhaustive search

exhaustively adverb

exhaustiveness noun