Retailers can exert leverage over producers by threatening to take their business elsewhere.
verb /ɪɡ'zɝt/
1
to use your power, influence etc in order to make something happen.
to use (strength, ability, etc.)
to cause (force, effort, etc.) to have an effect or to be felt.
to use power or influence to affect sb/sth.
to use something such as authority, power, influence, etc. in order to make something happen.
to use influence, authority, or power in order to affect or achieve something.
If someone or something exerts influence, authority, or pressure, they use it in a strong or determined way, especially in order to produce a particular effect.
They exerted considerable influence within the school. [considerable = adjective, /kən'sɪdərəbl/, large in size, amount, or quantity. fairly large, especially large enough to have an effect or be important.]
Environmental groups are exerting pressure on the government to tighten pollution laws.
He had to exert all of his strength to move the stone.
She hasn't been reluctant to exert [=exercise] her authority. [reluctant = adjective, /rɪ'lʌktənt/, feeling or showing doubt about doing something : not willing or eager to do something]
The company exerted [=put] pressure on local politicians.
He exerts a lot of influence on the other members of the committee.
the force exerted by the machine.
He exerted all his authority to make them accept the plan.
The moon exerts a force on the earth that causes the tides.
If you were to exert your influence they might change their decision.
Some managers exert considerable pressure on their staff to work extra hours without being paid.
He exerted considerable influence on the thinking of the scientific community on these issues.
The cyst was causing swelling and exerting pressure on her brain. [cyst = noun, /sɪst/, a lump containing liquid that grows in your body or under your skin, and that sometimes needs to be removed → boil] [lump = noun, /lʌmp/, 2). a small hard swollen area that sticks out from someone’s skin or grows in their body, usually because of an illness] [boil = noun, /bɔɪl/, 2). a painful infected swelling under someone’s skin.]
2
exert yourself
to work very hard and use a lot of physical or mental energy.
to make an effort to do something.
to make a big physical or mental effort.
to make a mental or physical effort.
to put force or physical pressure on something.
If you exert yourself, you make a great physical or mental effort, or work hard to do something.
He has exerted himself tirelessly on behalf of the charity.
Don't exert yourself too much.
She's always willing to exert herself to help other people.
In order to be successful he would have to exert himself.
I was too tired to exert myself.
exert influence/pressure/control
A well-funded national organization would be able to exert more influence in Parliament.
the inadequate degree of control exerted by some parents over their children
The heavy gate had exerted considerable pressure on the flimsy post.
Youngsters get so absorbed that they don't realise how much they're exerting themselves, visually and mentally.
Do not exert yourself unnecessarily.
exertion noun, /ɪɡ'zɝʃən/
He clearly found the physical exertion exhilarating.
exhilarate, verb,/ɪɡ'zɪləret/
to make someone feel very excited and happy
We were exhilarated by the news of his success.
Speed had always exhilarated him.
exhilarating, adjective,/ɪɡ'zɪləretɪŋ/
making you feel happy, excited, and full of energy.
an exhilarating experience
an exhilarating walk.
exhilarated, adjective,/ɪɡ'zɪləretid/
feeling extremely happy, excited, and full of energy:
Dan felt strangely exhilarated by the day’s events.
Thanks to the exertions of a few sensible and courageous men, the compromise was accepted.