exhaustive

adjective

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

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
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
In her exhaustive chronicle, Jennings traces the long folkloric history of monk-tormenting demons. JSTOR Daily, 31 Oct. 2025 These homes give families a respite from the exhaustive nature of caregiving a child with severe medical needs. Wendy Grossman Kantor, PEOPLE, 30 Oct. 2025 The results of this exhaustive testing have already been transferred to design companies for immediate use. Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Oct. 2025 Back in 2023, USA TODAY published an exhaustive database of the nation’s deadliest occupations, based on fatality data for 2021. Daniel De Visé, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025 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

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Cite this Entry

“Exhaustive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustive. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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