General synonyms:
* Applied: "She applied pressure to the wound."
* Used: "He used all his strength to lift the box."
* Employed: "The team employed a new strategy."
* Exercised: "The athlete exercised his muscles."
* Performed: "The singer performed with great energy."
Synonyms emphasizing effort:
* Strenuous: "The hiker exerted strenuous effort to climb the mountain."
* Vigorous: "The dog exerted vigorous energy during playtime."
* Forceful: "The speaker made a forceful argument."
* Intense: "The athlete exerted intense focus during the competition."
Synonyms emphasizing influence:
* Influenced: "The politician exerted influence over the voters."
* Wielded: "The king wielded his power to make decisions."
* Impacted: "The economic crisis exerted a negative impact on the country."
Synonyms emphasizing pressure:
* Pressed: "He pressed his foot down on the gas pedal."
* Squeezed: "She squeezed the juice from the orange."
* Strained: "The athlete strained his muscles during the race."
To choose the best synonym, consider the context of the sentence and the specific meaning you want to convey.