extravagant

adjective

ex·​trav·​a·​gant ik-ˈstra-vi-gənt 

1

a

: exceeding the limits of reason or necessity

extravagant claims

b

: lacking in moderation, balance, and restraint

extravagant praise

c

: extremely or excessively elaborate

an extravagant display

2

: extremely or unreasonably high in price

an extravagant purchase

3

a

: spending much more than necessary

has always been extravagant with her money

b

: profuse, lavish

4

a

archaic : wandering

b

obsolete : strange, curious

extravagantly adverb

Synonyms

• high-rolling
• prodigal
• profligate
• spendthrift
• squandering
• thriftless
• unthrifty
• wasteful

Choose the Right Synonym for extravagant

excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit.

excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Examples of extravagant in a Sentence

The company has been making extravagant claims about the drug's effectiveness.

The film is notable for its extravagant settings and special effects.

We're going on a less extravagant vacation this year.

Her extravagant spending has to stop.

Recent Examples on the Web

Top 3 Can't Miss Known for its extravagant events featuring LGBTQ+ icons, Nemacolin is a resort to experience at least once. —Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2025

Archaeologists found the artwork in the floor of an extravagant mansion in Pompeii known as the House of the Faun in 1831. —Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025

For example, a couple in their early twenties with a combined annual income of $75,000 is unlikely to splurge on a $100,000 engagement ring, making an extravagant mined stone seem improbable. —Garth Friesen, Forbes, 19 Jan. 2025

British royalty have continued to don extravagant brooches for formal appearances up until present day. —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin extravagant-, extravagans, from Latin extra- + vagant-, vagans, present participle of vagari to wander about, from vagus wandering

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Kids Definition

extravagant

adjective

ex·​trav·​a·​gant ik-ˈstrav-i-gənt 

1

: going beyond what is reasonable or suitable

extravagant praise

2

: wasteful especially of money

extravagant spending

extravagantly adverb

Etymology

Middle English extravagaunt "wandering away, going beyond the usual limits," from early French extravagant (same meaning), from Latin extravagant-, extravagans (same meaning), from earlier extra- "outside, beyond" and vagari "to wander away" — related to vagabond