exhaustive

From exhaust +‎ -ive.

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzɔː.stɪv/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzɔ.stɪv/
• (cot–caught merger, US, Canada) IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzɑ.stɪv/

  • Audio (US):

    (file)

• (General Australian) IPA^(key): /ɪɡˈzoː.stɪv/

exhaustive (comparative more exhaustive, superlative most exhaustive)

1. Including every possible element: fully comprehensive.

   Synonym: all-encompassing

   Hypernyms: thorough, comprehensive; see also Thesaurus:comprehensive

   We made an exhaustive list.

2. (now rare) Causing exhaustion; very tiring.

   Synonyms: tiring, weariful; see also Thesaurus:fatiguing

   • 1878, John Henry Blunt, The Reformation of the Church of England: A. D. 1514-1547, page 98:

     Wolsey saw in what imminent peril the revenues of the Church were from the exhaustive squandering and grasping covetousness of the Court.

   • 2013, Gloria Linkey, Native American Women: Three Who Changed History:

     Chopping and hauling wood was exhaustive work. Scraping the flesh off the heavy hides and hanging them to dry also taxed her physical strength.

• IPA^(key): /ɛɡ.zos.tiv/

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophone: exhaustives

exhaustive

1. feminine singular of exhaustif