Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of verb exert

3 senses of exert

Sense 1
exert, exercise -- (put to use; "exert one's power or influence")
       => use, utilize, utilise, apply, employ -- (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose; "use your head!"; "we only use Spanish at home"; "I can't use this tool"; "Apply a magnetic field here"; "This thinking was applied to many projects"; "How do you utilize this tool?"; "I apply this rule to get good results"; "use the plastic bags to store the food"; "He doesn't know how to use a computer")

Sense 2
wield, exert, maintain -- (have and exercise; "wield power and authority")
       => have, have got, hold -- (have or possess, either in a concrete or an abstract sense; "She has $1,000 in the bank"; "He has got two beautiful daughters"; "She holds a Master's degree from Harvard")

Sense 3
exert -- (make a great effort at a mental or physical task; "exert oneself")
       => act, move -- (perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel")