extreme

¹ex·treme

adjective \ik-ˈstrēm\

Definition of EXTREME

1

a : existing in a very high degree <extreme poverty>

b : going to great or exaggerated lengths : radical <went on an extreme diet>

c : exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected <extreme weather conditions>

2

archaic : last

3

: situated at the farthest possible point from a center <the country's extreme north>

4

a : most advanced or thoroughgoing <the extreme political left>

b : maximum

5

a : of, relating to, or being an outdoor activity or a form of a sport (as skiing) that involves an unusually high degree of physical risk <extreme mountain biking down steep slopes>

b : involved in an extreme sport <an extreme snowboarder>

— ex·treme·ness noun

Examples of EXTREME

1. The plant is sensitive to extreme heat and cold.
2. They are living in extreme poverty.
3. She went on an extreme diet.
4. Many thought that the punishment was too extreme for the crime.
5. The plan was rejected as too extreme.
6. This is an extreme example of what can happen when a company grows too quickly.
7. He has extreme opinions when it comes to politics.
8. Members of the extreme right opposed the legislation.

Origin of EXTREME

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin extremus, superl. of exter, exterus being on the outside — more at exterior

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to EXTREME

Synonyms

farthermost, farthest, furthermost, furthest, outermost, outmost, remotest, ultimate, utmost

Antonyms

inmost, innermost, nearest

Related Words

aftermost, rearmost, sternmost

Near Antonyms

intermediate, medial, median, mid, middle, midmost

See Synonym Discussion at excessive

Rhymes with EXTREME

abeam, agleam, airstream, berseem, beseem, bireme, blaspheme, bloodstream, centime, coal seam, cold cream, crossbeam, daydream, downstream, dream team, drill team, egg cream, esteem, French seam, grapheme, Gulf Stream, hakim, headstream, high beam, hornbeam, I beam, ice cream, inseam, jet stream, kilim, lexeme, live steam, low beam, mainstream, midstream, millime, millstream, moonbeam, morpheme, onstream, phoneme, pipe dream, redeem, regime, rhyme scheme, sealed-beam, sememe, sidestream, slipstream, sour cream, sunbeam, supreme, tag team, Tarim, third-stream, toneme, trireme, unseam, upstream, warp beam, wet dream

²extreme

noun

Definition of EXTREME

1

a : something situated at or marking one end or the other of a range <extremes of heat and cold>

b : the first term or the last term of a mathematical proportion

c : the major term or minor term of a syllogism

2

a : a very pronounced or excessive degree

b : highest degree : maximum

3

: an extreme measure or expedient <going to extremes>

— in the extreme

: to the greatest possible extent

Examples of EXTREME

1. After spending lavishly for years, the company has now gone to the opposite extreme and has cut expenses drastically.
2. His mood changed from one extreme to the other.

First Known Use of EXTREME

1555