1
as in irrelevant
not being a vital part of or belonging to something
the architect's streamlined modern style shuns any sort of extraneous ornamentation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in immaterial
not having anything to do with the matter at hand
the professor would have covered all of the course material if she had refrained from her extraneous remarks on just about everything
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extraneous
Others have a negative connotation, viewing them as extraneous measures for pet projects that balloon congressional spending.
—
Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2025
Even a little extraneous light, however, can interfere with this process.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Powell quickly read the document and then dismissed it as containing an extraneous line item.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 30 July 2025
Without the extraneous nuisance of hair, his head felt lighter, as if a heavy burden of worry had been lifted.
—Hazlitt, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for extraneous
Lisa Hagen, Hartford Courant, 20 Aug. 2025
Even a little extraneous light, however, can interfere with this process.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 8 Aug. 2025
Powell quickly read the document and then dismissed it as containing an extraneous line item.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 30 July 2025
Without the extraneous nuisance of hair, his head felt lighter, as if a heavy burden of worry had been lifted.
—Hazlitt, 16 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for extraneous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extraneous
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
Adjective
-
Many, if not most, companies use and rely on cloud services, vendors and other external partners to manage their data and operations leaving customers’ data vulnerable when their employees are manipulated through social engineering.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes.com,
6 Sep. 2025
-
The pool and rooftop bars are for hotel guests only, while the restaurants are open to external guests.—
Heather Richardson,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
As Spell-Hansson notes in her research publication, organizational leaders can be aware of the interplay of extrinsic and intrinsic barriers and opportunities and be strategic in crafting workplace cultures that will be welcoming to all potential employees.—
Susan Madsen,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Is your motivation for doing well extrinsic or intrinsic?—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
11 June 2025
Adjective
-
Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
5 July 2025
-
The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker.—
Mark Greif,
Harper's Magazine,
26 July 2024
Adjective
-
Police determined the injury was accidental and not child abuse.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The sound does much of the work in action sequences obscured by blinding snowstorms and flashing emergency lights, punctuated by creative acts of accidental self-harm that save our protagonists from certain death more than once.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extraneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extraneous. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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