alien 1 of 3

alien

2 of 3

verb

alien

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alien different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of alien are extraneous, extrinsic, and foreign. While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.

a practice totally alien to her nature

In what contexts can extraneous take the place of alien?

The synonyms extraneous and alien are sometimes interchangeable, but extraneous applies to what is on or comes from the outside and may or may not be capable of becoming an essential part.

arguments extraneous to the issue

When is it sensible to use extrinsic instead of alien?

While in some cases nearly identical to alien, extrinsic applies to what is distinctly outside the thing in question or is not contained in or derived from its essential nature.

sentimental value that is extrinsic to the house's market value

When could foreign be used to replace alien?

The words foreign and alien are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foreign applies to what is so different as to be rejected or repelled or to be incapable of becoming assimilated.

techniques foreign to French cuisine

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alien
Adjective
Emma Stone stars as a powerful CEO who is accused of being an alien and kidnapped in the trailer for Bugonia, which marks her latest collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos. Katherine Schaffstall, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2025 The clip focuses on Emma Stone, a powerful CEO, who is kidnapped and accused of being an alien by a pair of unwell men. Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
From escaping regressive tax models to de-commodifying the arts to rethinking human relations after first contact with intelligent alien life, the contributors envision what is needed to conjure this future. Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 The interweaving crime-movie and possible alien-abduction threads vining around the empty skeleton at this movie’s center never quite cohere, and on-camera interviews with any number of the criminal teens offer no emotional scaffold to grab onto. Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
But even that description fails to capture what Yagi is after: those parts of us, precious and possibly hostile, which flower in darkness, disintegrate when described, and can be compared only to alien life-forms. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Neanderthal to alien, and yet strangely well-suited for the modern era. Nick Remsen, CNN, 30 Sep. 2021 See All Example Sentences for alien
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alien
Adjective
  • The content drew attention to the country’s inequality by contrasting the lives of the children of the country’s elite – with designer clothing and foreign vacations – with images of Nepali migrant workers returning home in coffins from dangerous jobs abroad.
    Nir Kshetri, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The movie has already broken local opening records abroad for an anime movie with an overall foreign total of $350M per The Numbers, the bulk of that from Japan.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 13 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Both are devoted to the same hetero fairy tale; whether the wedding is happening in the temple or on national television is irrelevant.
    Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
  • His main criticism is how many of the recommendations are either generic or irrelevant to his interests.
    James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • However, sharp spending cuts have angered many, while corruption allegations against senior officials have dented his party’s odds ahead of next month’s vote, which could determine the future of Milei’s presidency.
    Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Lawyers at Walsh Gallegos coordinated two releases of emails and other documents on behalf of the school board, but CNN reported how gaping holes remained, surprising and angering board members.
    Shimon Prokupecz, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Given the apparent emergency, Tejasvi’s grandfather was prepared to transfer the funds—but her father urged him not to and the grandfather, at the suggestion of his wife, then called the uncle to see if the request was legitimate.
    Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Strategic planning for business owners is based first on strategic thinking, parallel thinking, and transferring natural human applications to our corporate concerns.
    Ken Polk, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • In a sport where you are being watched by thousands of strangers almost every night, Vanderbilt shares the belief that fashion is about showing a little bit of yourself.
    Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Plus, a predatory stranger lurking on Roblox can’t DM their child on a landline.
    Stephanie Ganz, Parents, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Scientists also revealed that a breakthrough allows ULIS to function wirelessly, as an isolated unit that can be controlled and monitored without external cables.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 13 Sep. 2025
  • This includes the emotional well-being of the individual as well as the immediate external environment; their home.
    Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Sales collapsed, relationships soured and internal blame escalated.
    Thomas Lim, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Trump appointed Powell to lead the Federal Reserve in 2017, but their relationship soured due to Powell's decisions on interest rates.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Even politicians from his own party grew frustrated over his unwillingness to cede decision-making to prime ministers or MPs.
    Cole Stangler, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
  • However, ceding parts of a process or role to AI can be difficult for many, including HR pros who pride themselves on the humanity underscoring their work.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alien. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

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