exhaustive

adjective

ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv How to pronounce exhaustive (audio)
Synonyms of exhaustive
: including all possibilities : thorough
conducted an exhaustive search
exhaustively adverb
exhaustiveness noun
exhaustivity
ig-ˌzȯ-ˈsti-və-tē How to pronounce exhaustive (audio)
noun

Synonyms of exhaustive

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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
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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.
Attrition is costly and exhaustive and is the silent killer of some businesses. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026 Let’s really make this as exhaustive as possible. — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 20 June 2026 The list of top-of-the-range technologies here, capable of forecasting every facet of life, is exhaustive, stopping just short of a machine that can predict winning lottery numbers. — Susan D'arcy, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 June 2026 Canales’ preparation was exhaustive, dipping back half a decade into Flores’ time as the head coach and defensive play caller for the Miami Dolphins. — Joseph Person, New York Times, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for exhaustive

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of exhaustive was circa 1789

Browse Nearby Words

exhaustion
exhaustive
exhaustless
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exhaustive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustive. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

exhaustive

adjective
ex·​haus·​tive ig-ˈzȯ-stiv How to pronounce exhaustive (audio)
: trying all possibilities : thorough
an exhaustive search
exhaustively adverb
exhaustiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on exhaustive

Nglish: Translation of exhaustive for Spanish Speakers

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