1. Severe and unremitting in making demands
   "an exacting instructor";
   - stern, strict
    
2. Requiring more than usually expected or thought due, especially great patience, effort, and skill
   "found the job very exacting";
   - demanding
    
3. Requiring precise accuracy
   "an exacting job";
   - exigent
    
4. (microbiology) having complicated nutritional requirements; especially growing only in special artificial cultures
   "certain highly specialized xerophytes are extremely exacting in their requirements";
   - fastidious

1. Claim as due or just
   "The bank exacted payment of the loan";
   - demand
    
2. Take as an undesirable consequence of some event or state of affairs
   "The accident exacted a heavy toll";
   - claim, take

See also: difficult, hard, hard to please, hard-to-please, needy, rigorous, stringent, tight

Type of: ask, call for, claim, demand, involve, necessitate, need, postulate, require, take

Antonym: unfastidious

Encyclopedia: Exact