as in applied
to bring to bear especially forcefully or effectively
parental involvement has consistently been shown to exert the most influence over a child's success in school
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Recent Examples of exerted
The European Union's top diplomat accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday in Brussels for more pressure to be exerted on Moscow to press it into making concessions.
—
Aamer Madhani and Susie Blann The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
The European Union’s top diplomat accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday in Brussels for more pressure to be exerted on Moscow to press it into making concessions.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Suzuki was best known for his investigations into the Unification Church, a Korean religious movement that had exerted significant influence in Japan since the nineteen-sixties—and that maintained direct ties with Abe and his political party.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Those climaxes exerted visceral intensity, but delicacies at the threshold of audibility seemed physical presences as well.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
The most famous is Bernoulli’s principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid decreases the pressure exerted by the fluid.
—Cat Rainsford, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump began his second presidential term a few days after Maduro’s inauguration and has since exerted various forms of pressure.
—Germán Padinger, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
For most of the final season, Stranger Things has exerted a fair amount of effort to retcon what the series is really about.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
Aamer Madhani and Susie Blann The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
The European Union’s top diplomat accused Russia of not taking the talks seriously, calling Thursday in Brussels for more pressure to be exerted on Moscow to press it into making concessions.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Suzuki was best known for his investigations into the Unification Church, a Korean religious movement that had exerted significant influence in Japan since the nineteen-sixties—and that maintained direct ties with Abe and his political party.
—E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Those climaxes exerted visceral intensity, but delicacies at the threshold of audibility seemed physical presences as well.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026
The most famous is Bernoulli’s principle, which states that an increase in the speed of a fluid decreases the pressure exerted by the fluid.
—Cat Rainsford, Popular Science, 15 Jan. 2026
Guardiola may have defensive injury issues, too, but the respective physical toll exerted could not be more contrasting.
—Chris Waugh, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump began his second presidential term a few days after Maduro’s inauguration and has since exerted various forms of pressure.
—Germán Padinger, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
For most of the final season, Stranger Things has exerted a fair amount of effort to retcon what the series is really about.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exerted
Verb
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No uniform criteria applied based on services or caseloads.—
Raynee Howell,
Oklahoma Watch,
9 Feb. 2026
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Each transaction carries a trace of the rules applied, which Mercans portrays as crucial for auditability and corporate governance in multinational environments.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In 2004, when China used a similar amount of energy per person as India does now, coal was about ten times cheaper than solar.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
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Another internal document Lanier showed from YouTube suggested that the video streaming platform be used as a short-term digital babysitter while parents cook, clean or do laundry.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The pyramids, the temples, the stunning gold jewelry found in royal tombs — all of these marvels depended on practical, everyday tools wielded by skilled hands.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
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Kennedy has wielded the power of his office to take multiple steps that diverge from medical consensus.—
Ali Swenson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Power is not exercised outside the law but through it.—
Alejandro Reyes,
Washington Post,
3 Feb. 2026
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When federal power is exercised without restraint, accountability or clarity, even strong systems will shatter.—
Larry Pino,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exerted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exerted. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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