exact 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of exactnext
1
as in correct
being in agreement with the truth or a fact or a standard maybe I wasn't being very exact when I said I had done it a million times—but it sure seemed like it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
as in accurate
following an original exactly an exact replica of an aircraft flown by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in subtle
made or done with extreme care and accuracy the company stresses that its optical telescopes are exact instruments and should not be handled as toys

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in mathematical
meeting the highest standard of accuracy in order for the blind to fit properly, we must have the exact measurements of the window

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exact

2 of 2

verb

ig-ˈzakt How to pronounce exact (audio)
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
2
as in to impose
to establish or apply as a charge or penalty vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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
But they were never intended to be seen as straightforward copies of one another; the repetition is never exact. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 7 Oct. 2026 The recommendations that the group developed call for a company that releases such results to make public the model, exact prompt and compute time behind each one. — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 6 Oct. 2026
Verb
The warm welcome, exacting attention to detail, and discreet ubiquity of the Raffles butlers more than live up to the high expectation Raffles has established as a brand. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026 The moment highlights Ali’s affinity for fashion, often captured through WWD’s lens, which, like his presence in the ring, is rendered with precision through Parks’ exacting gaze. — Tonya Blazio-Licorish, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exact
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exact
  1. correct
  2. precise
  3. accurate
  4. subtle
  5. mathematical
  6. demand
  7. impose
  8. extort
Adjective
  • There was just one white—Blanc de Lynch-Bages 2025—so everyone got that one correct.
    — Erin Florio, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Oct. 2026
  • During radiotherapy, small tattoos can help clinicians repeatedly align radiation beams with the correct treatment area.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of correct
Adjective
  • But actually, the precise challenge was to not treat it as a joke.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The smaller probe will then head toward the asteroid's surface, a descent that should take two to three hours depending on 269 Justitia's precise gravity, which remains unknown.
    — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of precise
Adjective
  • Moreover, the company says automatic workout recognition is twice as accurate as before, with 50% fewer missed activities.
    — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Google says the new model means auto activity tracking is twice as accurate and supports over 100 activities.
    — Victoria Song, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of accurate
Adjective
  • Poindexter featured his three daughters in his first campaign advertisement for the general election, taking a subtle dig at Miller.
    — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Later still, we are introduced to Satoko Iijima (Ishida), who again shares many defining features with her two namesakes, albeit with just enough subtle differences to keep the audience on the back foot.
    — James Marsh, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of subtle
Adjective
  • Attention turned out to be the right mathematical operation for linking words and building context — the fundamentals of translation.
    — Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 12 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI’s model proved that even when the variables are allowed to be any rational number—a whole number or a fraction—the mathematical world remains unsortable.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of mathematical
Verb
  • As Haitians on both sides of the island took sides, Dominican authorities demanded an apology, nationalists denounced the statement as an affront to Dominican sovereignty, and Haiti’s foreign ministry distanced the government from it.
    — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The Barcelona turmoil late on Monday followed protests across the country over the weekend that demanded measures to resolve a crisis sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid, the country's capital.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of demand
Verb
  • Growing tensions China has been pushing for the EU to stop blocking Chinese imports of advanced computer chipmaking machines, restrictions imposed on national security grounds at Washington’s behest.
    — Sam McNeil, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Health care, homelessness The countywide sales tax initiative proposes imposing a quarter-cent tax in order to increase services for unhoused residents as well as address KCK’s healthcare shortage.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of impose
Verb
  • Hill alleged school board members tried to extort her into resigning in a memo sent to the board ahead of her firing.
    — Julia Coin, Charlotte Observer, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Police in Europe allege that a 16-year-old is the leader of a ransomware group called KillSec, which tried to extort hundreds of businesses and organizations.
    — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of extort

Browse Nearby Words

exacerbating
exact
exacted
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Exact.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exact. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All