We consider exponential weights of the formw≔e−Qon [−1, 1] whereQ(x) is even and grows faster than (1−x2)−δnear ±1, someδ>0. For example, we can takeQ(x)≔expk((1−x2)−α), k⩾0, α>0,where expkdenotes thekth iterated exponential and exp0(x)=x. We prove converse theorems of polynomial approximation in weightedLpspaces with norm ‖fw‖Lp[−1, 1]for all 0