" exacting "

1: hard to please;

  * e.g., " ... he was shocked when his normally exacting supervisor complimented him on a job well done "

•  Synonyms : 

•  choosy,

•  dainty,

•  delicate,

•  demanding,

•  fastidious,

•  finical,

•  finicking,

•  finicky,

•  fussbudgety,

•  fussy,

•  nice,

•  old-maidish,

•  particular,

•  pernickety,

•  persnickety,

•  picky

•  Antonyms : 

•  undemanding,

•  unfastidious,

•  unfussy

2: not allowing for any exceptions or loosening of standards;

  * e.g., " ... the prep school's exacting standards for admission "

•  Synonyms : 

•  brassbound,

•  cast-iron,

•  hard-line,

•  inflexible,

•  rigid,

•  rigorous,

•  strict,

•  stringent,

•  uncompromising

•  Antonyms : 

•  flexible,

•  lax,

•  loose,

•  relaxed,

•  slack

3: requiring considerable physical or mental effort;

  * e.g., " ... the new recruits had to adjust themselves to the exacting discipline of military life "

•  Synonyms : 

•  arduous,

•  Augean,

•  backbreaking,

•  challenging,

•  demanding,

•  difficult,

•  effortful,

•  formidable,

•  grueling,

•  hard,

•  heavy,

•  hellacious,

•  herculean,

•  killer,

•  laborious,

•  moiling,

•  murderous,

•  pick-and-shovel,

•  rigorous,

•  rough,

•  rugged,

•  severe,

•  stiff,

•  strenuous,

•  sweaty,

•  tall,

•  testing,

•  toilsome,

•  tough,

•  uphill

•  Antonyms : 

•  cheap,

•  easy,

•  effortless,

•  facile,

•  light,

•  mindless,

•  simple,

•  soft,

•  undemanding

1: to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority;

  * e.g., " ... every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest "

•  Synonyms : 

•  calling (for),

•  claiming,

•  clamoring (for),

•  commanding,

•  demanding,

•  enjoining,

•  insisting (on),

•  pressing (for),

•  questing,

•  stipulating (for)

•  Antonyms : 

•  remitting

2: to establish or apply as a charge or penalty;

  * e.g., " ... vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice "

•  Synonyms : 

•  assessing,

•  charging,

•  fining,

•  imposing,

•  laying,

•  levying,

•  putting

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: to get (as money) by the use of force or threats;

  * e.g., " ... that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary "

•  Synonyms : 

•  extorting,

•  wresting,

•  wringing

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to ask for (something) earnestly or with authority;

  * e.g., " ... every war inevitably exacts the greatest sacrifice possible from some of the nation's best and brightest "

•  Synonyms : 

•  call (for),

•  claim,

•  clamor (for),

•  command,

•  demand,

•  enjoin,

•  insist (on),

•  press (for),

•  quest,

•  stipulate (for)

•  Antonyms : 

•  remit

2: to establish or apply as a charge or penalty;

  * e.g., " ... vowed to exact a heavy fine from any hockey player engaging in such outrageous behavior on the ice "

•  Synonyms : 

•  assess,

•  charge,

•  fine,

•  impose,

•  lay,

•  levy,

•  put

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

3: to get (as money) by the use of force or threats;

  * e.g., " ... that loan shark can be counted upon to exact repayment of his loan by whatever means necessary "

•  Synonyms : 

•  extort,

•  wrest,

•  wring

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)