English

Adjective

exacting ‎(comparative more exacting, superlative most exacting)

1. Making excessive demands; difficult to satisfy.
   • 1874, Edward Payson Roe, Opening a Chestnut Burr, ch. 4:

     His exacting taste required no small degree of outward perfection.

   • 1895, Arthur Conan Doyle, The Stark Munro Letters, ch. 7:

     [H]e burst into apologies which would have satisfied a more exacting man than I am.

2. (of an action, task, etc) Requiring precise accuracy, great care, effort, or attention.
   • 1897, Bram Stoker, The Man, ch. 3:

     Wolf's work, which, though not very exacting, had to be done single-handed, kept him to his post.

3. (of a person or organization) Characterized by exaction.
   • 1850, T. S. Arthur, All's For the Best, ch. 2:

     "He is a hard, exacting, money-loving man," was my remark.

Synonyms

• (difficult to satisfy): demanding
• (requiring precise accuracy, effort, care, or attention): demanding
• (characterized by exaction): acquisitive, extortionate, grasping, money-grubbing, rapacious

Translations

See also

• Wikisaurus:fastidious
• Wikisaurus:meticulous

Verb

exacting

1. present participle of exact

Derived terms

• exactingly
• exactingness