What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Exact vs Thorough - What's the difference?

exact | thorough |

As adjectives the difference between exact and thorough

is that exact is precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect while thorough is painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail.

As a verb exact

is to demand and enforce the payment or performance of.

As a preposition thorough is

(obsolete) through.

As a noun thorough is

(uk|dialect) a furrow between two ridges, to drain off the surface water.

exact

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Precisely agreeing with a standard, a fact, or the truth; perfectly conforming; neither exceeding nor falling short in any respect.
  • Habitually careful to agree with a standard, a rule, or a promise; accurate; methodical; punctual.
  • * (John Milton) (1608-1674)
    • I see thou art exact of taste.
  • * 1661 , , The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond
    • During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant
  • Precisely or definitely conceived or stated; strict.
  • * (William Shakespeare) (1564-1616)
    • An exact command, / Larded with many several sorts of reason.
  • (algebra, of a sequence of groups connected by homomorphisms) Such that the kernel of one homomorphism is the image of the preceding one.

    • Synonyms

    * (precisely agreeing) perfect, true, correct, precise * (precisely or definitely conceived or stated) strict * spot on

    Antonyms

    * (precisely agreeing) inexact, imprecise, approximate * (precisely or definitely conceived or stated) loose

    Derived terms

    * exactly * exactness * exact sequence

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To demand and enforce the payment or performance of.
    • to exact tribute, fees, or obedience
  • * Bible, Luke iii. 13
    • He said into them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
  • To make desirable or necessary.
  • * Massinger
    • My designs exact me in another place.
  • To forcibly obtain or produce.
    • to exact revenge

    Derived terms

    * exactable * exacter * exacting * exactor

    External links

    * * * 1000 English basic words ----

    thorough

    English

    Etymology 1

    (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * thoro

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail
    • The Prime Minister announced a thorough investigation into the death of a father of two in police custody.
    He is the most thorough worker I have ever seen.
    The infested house needs a thorough cleansing before it will be inhabitable.
  • utter; complete; absolute
    • It is a thorough pleasure to see him beg for mercy.
    Derived terms
    * thoroughbred * thoroughgoing * thoroughly

    Etymology 2

    A disyllabic form of (etyl) .

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • (obsolete) Through.
  • * , II.xii:
    • Ye might haue seene the frothy billowes fry / Vnder the ship, as thorough them she went [...].
  • * 1599 , , V. i. 109:
    • You are contented to be led in triumph / Thorough the streets of Rome?

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (UK, dialect) A furrow between two ridges, to drain off the surface water.
    • (Halliwell)