exacting

exact +‎ -ing

exacting (comparative more exacting, superlative most exacting)

1. Making excessive demands; difficult to satisfy.
   • 1874, Edward Payson Roe, chapter 4, in Opening a Chestnut Burr:

     His exacting taste required no small degree of outward perfection.

   • 1895, Arthur Conan Doyle, chapter 7, in The Stark Munro Letters:

     [H]e burst into apologies which would have satisfied a more exacting man than I am.

2. (of an action, task, etc) Requiring precise accuracy, great care, effort, or attention.
   • 1897, Bram Stoker, chapter 3, in The Man:

     Wolf's work, which, though not very exacting, had to be done single-handed, kept him to his post.

3. (of a person or organization) Characterized by exaction.
   • 1850, T. S. Arthur, chapter 2, in All's For the Best:

     "He is a hard, exacting, money-loving man," was my remark.

• (difficult to satisfy): demanding
• (requiring precise accuracy, effort, care, or attention): demanding, niggly, pernickety
• (characterized by exaction): acquisitive, extortionate, grasping, money-grubbing, rapacious

exacting

1. present participle of exact

• exactingly
• exactingness

• Thesaurus:fastidious
• Thesaurus:meticulous