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.
Having completed an exhaustive number of laps, Marquez was seen pushing hard to improve his success today, but the crash left him choosing not to continue for that session. Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025 By no means exhaustive, these questions should be viewed as good starting points to keep us disciplined and check our emotions — which should never play any role in our selling (or buying) decisions. Jeff Nash, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025 During exhaustive arguments over jury instructions in early January, attorneys had spent what seemed like an eternity discussing whether one small phrase amid the 100-plus pages of instructions should be a single or double quote. Megan Crepeau, Chicago Tribune, 2 Feb. 2025 Last year, fresh out of an exhaustive, year-long Ferrari Classiche restoration, it was displayed at Cavallino Concorso events in both Modena and Abu Dhabi, and took part in the Ferrari-run GTO Legacy Tour through the Italian Dolomites to celebrate the 288 GTO’s 40th anniversary. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 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

Dictionary Entries Near exhaustive

Cite this Entry

“Exhaustive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exhaustive. Accessed 12 Feb. 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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