extravagant

adjective

ex·​trav·​a·​gant ik-ˈstra-vi-gənt How to pronounce extravagant (audio)
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
4
a
archaic : wandering
b
obsolete : strange, curious
extravagantly adverb
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 Cher made a minimalist departure from her typically extravagant style at Burberry‘s New York flagship reopening on Wednesday. Hannah Malach, WWD, 17 Oct. 2024 This may be the most extravagant stay on any of the Southern California inn-to-inn hikes, with your choice of bungalows, casitas or villas and the option to dine at one of nine restaurants, plus a lavish spa. Dakota Kim, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2024 With a menu spanning oysters, chicken chasseur, turbot with green sauce and much else besides, the offering was so extravagant that part of a baggage car had to be repurposed to make space for an extra icebox containing food and alcohol. Oscar Holland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024 The Kremlin is now offering extravagant salaries and signing bonuses of up to $38,000 to men who sign contracts with the army. Peter Pomerantsev, Foreign Affairs, 11 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for extravagant 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extravagant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of extravagant was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near extravagant

Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extravagant. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

extravagant

adjective
ex·​trav·​a·​gant ik-ˈstrav-i-gənt How to pronounce extravagant (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on extravagant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!