exacting

1. 1
   adjective

   Needing a lot of care, effort, and attention to do right.

   Like coloring inside very thin lines without going over even once.

   Building a model ship is exacting work that needs steady hands.

   Watch repair is so exacting that one tiny mistake ruins everything.

   Similardemanding, rigorous, painstaking, meticulous, arduous

   Oppositeeasy, simple, undemanding

   Note
2. 2
   adjective

   Wanting a lot from people and never easy to please.

   Like a teacher who marks you down for the smallest mistake.

   Her exacting boss expected every report to be perfect.

   Coaches can be exacting, pushing players to do better each day.

   Similardemanding, strict, particular, fastidious, tough

   Oppositeundemanding, easygoing, lenient

   Note
3. 3
   verb

   Present participle of exact. Use this -ing form when the act of demanding or collecting is happening.

   The warlord was exacting tribute from every village he passed.

   She spent years exacting revenge on those who had wronged her.

   Note
4. 4
   adjective

   Marked by forcing people to hand over money or goods, often unfairly.

   The exacting tax collectors took more than the families could spare.

   The exacting landlord kept adding new fees until his tenants had nothing left to pay with.

   Similarextortionate, oppressive, rapacious, harsh, grasping

   Note

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