exacting

adjective ex·act·ing \ig-ˈzak-tiŋ\

: requiring much time, attention, or effort from someone : very difficult or demanding

Full Definition of EXACTING

: tryingly or unremittingly severe in making demands

: requiring careful attention and precision

— ex·act·ing·ly \-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

— ex·act·ing·ness noun

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First Known Use of EXACTING

1634

Related to EXACTING

Synonyms: choosy (or choosey), dainty, delicate, demanding, finicky, fastidious, finical, finicking, fussbudgety, fussy, nice, old-maidish, particular, pernickety [chiefly British], persnickety, picky

Antonyms: undemanding, unfastidious, unfussy

Synonym Discussion of EXACTING

onerous, burdensome, oppressive, exacting mean imposing hardship. onerous stresses being laborious and heavy especially because distasteful <the onerous task of cleaning up the mess>. burdensome suggests causing mental as well as physical strain <burdensome responsibilities>. oppressive implies extreme harshness or severity in what is imposed <the oppressive tyranny of a police state>. exacting implies rigor or sternness rather than tyranny or injustice in the demands made or in the one demanding <an exacting employer>.