exhaustive

adjective

ig-ˈzȯ-stiv How to pronounce exhaustive (audio)
Definition of exhaustivenext
1
as in thorough
trying all possibilities after an exhaustive search of our house, we still hadn't found the cat

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in comprehensive
covering everything or all important points an exhaustive survey of the nation's sexual habits

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 exhaustive Deadline’s list of bidders is by no means exhaustive and other interested parties may yet emerge. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026 The range of activities at both properties is exhaustive, but the main attractions are the half-mile sandy beach and 18-hole golf course. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Because space and defense qualification cycles require multiple years of exhaustive safety and performance certifications, switching to a cheaper competitor is highly frictional for a prime contractor. — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026 The New York Times‘ exhaustive list of the best TV shows of the 21st century traces its origin to a similar list of the best books a couple years ago. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exhaustive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exhaustive
  1. thorough
  2. comprehensive
  3. extensive
  4. full
  5. complete
Adjective
  • But their 20-3 loss to the Seahawks (4-3) was so thorough, unsightly and disillusioning as to render the 5-0 run-up to it entirely suspect — especially considering the Chiefs’ thorny schedule ahead.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Under the existing two-step process, competing teams must include thorough engineering and financial details as part of their proposals before NASA selects finalists for further study.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of thorough
Adjective
  • However, the database is far from comprehensive and represents about a fifth of Homeland Security's workforce, which staffs a little more than 220,000 people.
    — Vanessa Romo, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026
  • The others asserted vested development rights and reliance on county representations, leaving only the comprehensive plan challenge, which asserted that commissioners wrongly rejected housing that complied with the county’s growth policies.
    — Sarah Kinbar, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of comprehensive
Adjective
  • Spring water had to be channeled to collection areas, and then toward Solomon’s Pools, an extensive water-storage complex built south of Bethlehem.
    — Michele Chabin, Sun Sentinel, 27 Oct. 2026
  • After being closed for extensive renovations, the property is planning a grand re-opening for Spring 2025.
    — Erika Owen, Architectural Digest, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of extensive
Adjective
  • The full report says 12% of the scams reported in the survey involved AI or a deepfake.
    — Muskaan Arshad, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Some Ukrainian officials told the newspaper that the system had not been restored to full functionality but was working at higher speeds than under the cap.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of full
Adjective
  • Ethiopia’s coffee authority is compiling data, but the process is not complete.
    — Damian Zane, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • In practice, that can look like AI pulling together updates from ticketing systems, documentation, source control and incident platforms to give teams a more complete view of progress and risk.
    — Joel Burleson-Davis, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of complete

Browse Nearby Words

exhaustion
exhaustive
exhaustively
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exhaustive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exhaustive. Accessed 29 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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of shindig

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

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

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

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
different halloween monsters in silhouette
A Monstrous Vocab Quiz Words That Go Bump in the Night
See All