exact 1 of 2

Definition of exactnext
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as in precise
being neither more nor less than a certain amount, number, or extent the exact number of passengers on that airplane was 147

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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exact

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verb

1
as in to demand
to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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as in to extort
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word exact different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of exact are accurate, correct, nice, precise, and right. While all these words mean "conforming to fact, standard, or truth," exact stresses a very strict agreement with fact, standard, or truth.

exact measurements

In what contexts can accurate take the place of exact?

The synonyms accurate and exact are sometimes interchangeable, but accurate implies fidelity to fact or truth attained by exercise of care.

an accurate description

When could correct be used to replace exact?

In some situations, the words correct and exact are roughly equivalent. However, correct usually implies freedom from fault or error.

correct answers
socially correct dress

When would nice be a good substitute for exact?

The words nice and exact can be used in similar contexts, but nice stresses great precision and delicacy of adjustment or discrimination.

makes nice distinctions

How do precise and exact relate to one another?

Precise adds to exact an emphasis on sharpness of definition or delimitation.

precise calibration

How are the words right and correct related as synonyms of exact?

Right is close to correct but has a stronger positive emphasis on conformity to fact or truth rather than mere absence of error or fault.

the right thing to do

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of exact
Adjective
Rather than attempting to predict the exact moment a flare will erupt, researchers developed a probabilistic system designed to identify time periods and regions on the sun where extreme flares are more likely to occur. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026 Plenty of uncertainty remains over the exact status of the negotiations and the specific terms of any agreement, including around the Strait of Hormuz, the vital waterway for passage of much of the world’s oil supply. Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 24 May 2026
Verb
Harris’ approach to storytelling — methodical, exacting and surreal — places her within a storied tradition. Lovia Gyarkye, IndieWire, 16 May 2026 Told with exacting restraint yet as layered as the lacquer on an ebony Biedermeier console, this forms a loose triptych with Pawlikowski’s last two features, Ida and Cold War, both of which were set at least partly behind the Iron Curtain. Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for exact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exact
Adjective
  • Buxton was correct, getting the call overturned.
    Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 28 May 2026
  • Both could have been listed as correct.
    Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Animators Ri Crawford and David Lauer needed to be super precise about facial structures and mouth movements, especially, so that the stop-motion felt distinct but not too disconnected from the live-action work.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 May 2026
  • Embedding tracking technologies within luxury goods can provide retailers with precise knowledge of the location and movement of scarce inventory.
    Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Adjective
  • Atlas benefits further from a simplified hardware design, featuring symmetrical limbs and just two actuator types, making simulation and transfer more accurate and efficient.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 27 May 2026
  • They were armed with Glock pistols, which are only accurate for a short distance.
    ABC News, ABC News, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • Those subtle details make a huge difference in both worlds.
    Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 28 May 2026
  • Parents may notice subtle warning signs like skipping meals, cutting out entire food groups, anxiety around social eating, obsessive label reading, excessive exercise, or a sudden focus on body image.
    LeeAnn Weintraub, Oc Register, 27 May 2026
Adjective
  • But getting from the ground state to a full mathematical description of the reaction will be far more difficult, involving calculating energies for a whole sequence of intermediate chemical states.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 29 May 2026
  • The nightly variance in a league that shot 44 percent from the floor last season is a mathematical nightmare.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Big crowds on Saturday suggested that the dissent persists more than a year after protests ignited to demand accountability for a train station tragedy in Serbia’s north in November 2024 that killed 16 people.
    Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
  • Workers had demanded a formalization of bonuses in their contracts, the scrapping of bonus caps, and a payout of 15% of Samsung's operating profits as bonuses.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 23 May 2026
Verb
  • Millions of people without proper documentation came in, imposing severe hardships on border communities, straining city budgets, and overwhelming public services.
    Andrew Tisch, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
  • The California Environmental Quality Act requires agencies to complete a report on the additional carbon dioxide emitted from more drivers on the road before imposing the return-to-office order, the union said.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Davis has countersued for $20 million, alleging Rossel fabricated the claims and attempted to extort him.
    Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 28 May 2026
  • Dixie subsequently prevented Don from seeing Blue for much of his life, using his existence to threaten and extort Don.
    Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 28 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Exact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exact. Accessed 30 May. 2026.

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