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Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of extravagant are excessive, exorbitant, extreme, immoderate, and inordinate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

When is excessive a more appropriate choice than extravagant?

While the synonyms excessive and extravagant are close in meaning, excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When would exorbitant be a good substitute for extravagant?

The synonyms exorbitant and extravagant are sometimes interchangeable, but exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

In what contexts can extreme take the place of extravagant?

While in some cases nearly identical to extravagant, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Where would immoderate be a reasonable alternative to extravagant?

In some situations, the words immoderate and extravagant are roughly equivalent. However, immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

When is it sensible to use inordinate instead of extravagant?

The meanings of inordinate and extravagant largely overlap; however, inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

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 extravagant One team of officers had traveled from mainland China to treat Alvin’s parents in Hong Kong to an extravagant dinner. Cora Engelbrecht, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2025 When the film Gone With the Wind debuted in 1939, an extravagant premiere gala unfolded over three days in downtown Atlanta. Ellen Wexler, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Mar. 2025 Its extravagant Beaux Arts design, featuring garlands, arched windows, and decorative cartouches, are a sight to behold. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025 In the early 1980s, Mugler became known for creating extravagant designs that transformed the female body. Renan Botelho, WWD, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extravagant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extravagant
Adjective
  • DeSantis announced the new agency in February to expose and eliminate what officials deem wasteful spending by state agencies, colleges and universities, and local governments.
    Kathryn Varn, Axios, 8 Apr. 2025
  • This increases your close rates, limits wasteful spending and adds efficiency to the post-sign-up process.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But for others, anxiety is an ongoing disorder that causes excessive worry, and isn't just prompted by stressful situations.
    Hannah Yasharoff, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Avoid constipation as excessive straining can weaken the pelvic floor.
    Violeta Valdés, Vogue, 9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined to form the most expensive roster in the league.
    Sam Settleman, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Melissa Peterman, Townspeople’s executive director, noted that San Diego’s rental market is packed with expensive, multi-bedroom units.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The extreme weather has also destroyed several homes and caused significant damage to structures, Fox Weather and Fox 10 reported.
    Latoya Gayle, People.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • The extreme selling on Thursday and Friday revealed that over 90% of the stocks on the NYSE declined and over 90% of the volume was declining volume.
    Tom Aspray, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • These shoes are so highly coveted and valuable that Sotheby’s hosted an auction to sell them.
    Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Apple needs to figure out how to grow its most valuable business.
    Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The emu egg—a two pound, eight-inch ovoid with a sultry teal shell gently speckled in pale green—seemed like just the right absurdist final flourish for an already insane endeavor.
    Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Broadway is a costly, heavily unionized business and stars like Washington and Clooney don’t like to get tied up in the same project for months, let alone years.
    Chris Jones, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Both problems made an appearance in Saturday night’s costly 121-115 overtime loss to the Milwaukee Bucks at Kaseya Center.
    Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In another piece, a lavish sautoir with a rope-like chain is adorned with a 17-carat pink tourmaline and a white opal of over 12 carats, and holds a dial made of fiery red ruby root — the raw base material to which rubies are attached.
    Milena Lazazzera, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
  • In addition to a high-end spa and thriving dining scene, this lavish property is perfectly equipped to showcase the fascinating flora and fauna that calls Madagascar home, with some of the earth’s most iconic creatures making an appearance at the property each year.
    Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extravagant. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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