exhaustive
adjective
ex·haus·tive
ig-ˈzȯ-stiv 
: including all possibilities : thorough
conducted an exhaustive search
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
Finally getting that show onstage requires exhaustive collaboration.
—
Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2026
In all, my far-from-exhaustive search turned up more than two dozen.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Nishimatsu was brought in to handle the making of all of the traditional kabuki wigs worn by the actors — a rich and exhaustive craft tradition of its own.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Though not exhaustive, consider the following.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhaustive
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.
Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 19 Mar. 2026
In all, my far-from-exhaustive search turned up more than two dozen.
—Jacob Stern, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2026
Nishimatsu was brought in to handle the making of all of the traditional kabuki wigs worn by the actors — a rich and exhaustive craft tradition of its own.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026
Though not exhaustive, consider the following.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 2 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exhaustive
Cite this Entry
“Exhaustive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustive. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exhaustive
adjective
ex·haus·tive
ig-ˈzȯ-stiv
: trying all possibilities : thorough
an exhaustive search
exhaustively
adverb
exhaustiveness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
