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exhaustive

exhaustive

32 6.6
Including every part and detail
  • adjective
  • /ɪɡˈzɔːstɪv/
  • Formal
translation icon : exhaustivo
  • Her report was exhaustive, covering every aspect of the project in detail.

Well, so you just saw my rather exhaustive conversation with Brittany.

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Examples

  • I like to do an exhaustive search, come up with three solutions.

  • I present you an exhaustive list of marketing channels.

  • And this was an exhaustive five year investigation.

  • One of them is to do an exhaustive search.

  • And this is all far from exhaustive, but there will be more to come.

  • This is not an exhaustive list of course, right?

  • I mean, it was a really, really exhaustive look at the literature.

  • After their exhaustive review of the evidence, the grand jury deliberated over two days, making their final decision.

  • After an exhaustive search... ...we've identified who can best carry out a mission of this magnitude.

  • The list of addictive disorders affecting students that this article provides is by no means exhaustive.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

extensive
vsexhaustive
330 4.1

Large in amount, range, or area

is stricter about total completeness rather than mere breadth of scope
comprehensive
vsexhaustive
298 4.6

Covering almost everything to give a complete and detailed view

stresses absolute completeness and checking every possibility
thorough
vsexhaustive
205 4.6

Shows careful attention to every detail and leaves nothing out

focuses more on including every possible case rather than only careful process
all-encompassing
vsexhaustive
12 6.0

Including everything and everyone in a single plan

focuses on checking every possibility in detail rather than only broad coverage
thoroughgoing
vsexhaustive
2 7.7

Done completely and carefully, leaving nothing out

emphasizes total inclusion of possibilities beyond careful procedure

Antonyms

203 3.4

Not complete and only in some parts

117 3.4

Not finished because some parts or steps are missing

94 5.6

Not thorough and only about what is obvious, not deep

How Thorough

exhaustive
  • Formal
32 6.6
comprehensive
298 4.6
thorough
205 4.6
adequate
234 2.7
incomplete
117 3.4

Surface Forms

exhaustive positive

Morphology

exhaustive = exhaust (semi-transparent) = exhaust + ive

Formed by '-ive' derivation from the verb 'exhaust'; the relation to 'thorough/complete' is related but not fully obvious to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Exhaustive comes from Latin parts ex- meaning 'out' and haust meaning 'draw' or 'empty'. The related word exhaust means to use up or empty, so something exhaustive 'draws out' everything and is complete.