exigeant

Exigeant is a French adjective meaning demanding or exacting, in the sense of imposing high standards or requirements. It agrees in gender and number: exigeant (masculine singular), exigeante (feminine singular), exigeants (masculine plural), and exigeantes (feminine plural).

Etymology and form: Exigeant stems from the verb exiger, to demand, which comes from Latin exigere. The word is the present participle form used as an adjective to describe people, tasks, or standards that place strong requirements on others or on oneself.

Usage and nuance: Exigeant can describe people, such as a parent, teacher, or supervisor, who set strict criteria: for example, un parent exigeant or une enseignante exigeante. It can also qualify things like programs, schedules, or tests, as in un programme d’entraînement exigeant or des critères d’admission exigeants. The term generally conveys a neutral to negative nuance, depending on context: it might express admiration for high standards or criticism for inflexibility or harshness.

Related terms: The noun exigence, or the plural exigences, denotes a requirement or standard rather than a person. The phrase être exigeant envers soi-même means to be demanding of oneself, often implying high personal standards.

In usage: Exigeant is common across formal and informal registers and appears in education, professional contexts, and consumer descriptions. It provides a precise way to signal that particular conditions or performances are not easily met.