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
Villa have rarely exerted themselves but largely won comfortably anyway, barring the October aberration of a 2-1 loss away to Go Ahead Eagles of the Netherlands in the league phase.
—
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Proponents of citizen journalism saw the control exerted by a few professionals over the news agenda as problematic and hoped that bringing more contributors to the process would lead to news coverage that was more representative of the general public’s issues and concerns.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The meters use electrical conductivity or tensiometer tubes that measure the suction exerted by the soil on the water, which indicates the soil moisture available to plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Vince still exerted autocratic control.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Similarly, the team also found that, while in space, astronauts actually exerted more force than necessary to grip objects because their brains still expected the presence of gravity.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
After returning to office in 2010, Orbán swiftly exerted control over the media.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors presented evidence of the physical and emotional abuse and control that Lee Milne exerted during their 18-month married life leading up to the death on July 27, 2023, in Dundee, Scotland.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Because the muscles in this area are not overly exerted, their tendons don't toughen (which is why a tenderloin is so tender).
—Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Proponents of citizen journalism saw the control exerted by a few professionals over the news agenda as problematic and hoped that bringing more contributors to the process would lead to news coverage that was more representative of the general public’s issues and concerns.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The meters use electrical conductivity or tensiometer tubes that measure the suction exerted by the soil on the water, which indicates the soil moisture available to plants.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026
Vince still exerted autocratic control.
—Zach Helfand, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Similarly, the team also found that, while in space, astronauts actually exerted more force than necessary to grip objects because their brains still expected the presence of gravity.
—Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 20 Apr. 2026
After returning to office in 2010, Orbán swiftly exerted control over the media.
—Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 19 Apr. 2026
Prosecutors presented evidence of the physical and emotional abuse and control that Lee Milne exerted during their 18-month married life leading up to the death on July 27, 2023, in Dundee, Scotland.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Because the muscles in this area are not overly exerted, their tendons don't toughen (which is why a tenderloin is so tender).
—Sheena Chihak, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exerted
Verb
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Computer science major Ben Aybar, 22, graduated last spring from the University of Chicago and applied for about 50 jobs, mostly in software engineering, without getting a single interview.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Anxiety also reaches computer science majors Computer science major Ben Aybar, 22, graduated last spring from the University of Chicago and applied for about 50 jobs, mostly in software engineering, without getting a single interview.—
Jocelyn Gecker,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Two snakes, believed to be cobras, were used in the show, officials said.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Today, the same tools are being used by state actors for geopolitical propaganda.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Gray served in a variety of consequential positions over the years and wielded influence deftly to the benefit of the community, said Dick Batchelor, who represented Central Florida in the Legislature from 1974 to 1982 and regarded Gray as a sage confidant.—
Stephen Hudak,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
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The department houses the government’s stakes in Intel and two rare-earth minerals companies, and controls its board seat at US Steel, and is helping orchestrate the rescue of Spirit Airlines — all signs of how Trump has wielded executive power to exert unusual influence on private companies.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What started as attacks targeting US forces evolved over the years into something far more entrenched — political leverage over Shia parties alongside military power exercised through militias.—
Alaa Shahine Salha,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
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Combat systems are not fully exercised at this stage, as the focus remains on engineering performance and seaworthiness.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Exerted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exerted. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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