in extremis
adverb
in ex·tre·mis
ˌin-ik-ˈstrē-məs 
-ˈstrā-
-ˈstrā-
: in extreme circumstances
especially
: at the point of death
Examples of in extremis in a Sentence
They are helping a family in extremis.
Recent Examples on the Web
Signals of surrender have been spotted rather than the usual screaming at his team in extremis.
—
Tim Ellis, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Yang discovers that among famished Chinese in extremis, cannibalism was more widespread than previously known.
—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2013
Firstly, his work is out of step with what the book market craves from Black writers, namely pandering depictions of Black life in extremis, rendered in richly colorful African American vernacular.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2023
Her game face and mental resilience were top-notch as both games were played in extremis.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 15 July 2023
The warmth of the country in extremis did not suit her.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 June 2023
Theirs are lives in extremis.
—Brad Leithauser, WSJ, 7 Jan. 2022
Second place in that category goes to general surgeons, who may reasonably be in a hurry to get to a patient in extremis.
—Steve Mirsky, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2020
Machoian lingers too long on the protagonist’s stunned reaction — freak-out, panic, nausea, tears, anger — blurring the line between the character’s shattered state and Crawford flexing his acting muscles in an extended improv exercise of a man in extremis.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 June 2022
Tim Ellis, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Yang discovers that among famished Chinese in extremis, cannibalism was more widespread than previously known.
—Andrew J. Nathan, Foreign Affairs, 18 Feb. 2013
Firstly, his work is out of step with what the book market craves from Black writers, namely pandering depictions of Black life in extremis, rendered in richly colorful African American vernacular.
—Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2023
Her game face and mental resilience were top-notch as both games were played in extremis.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes, 15 July 2023
The warmth of the country in extremis did not suit her.
—Doreen St. Félix, The New Yorker, 22 June 2023
Theirs are lives in extremis.
—Brad Leithauser, WSJ, 7 Jan. 2022
Second place in that category goes to general surgeons, who may reasonably be in a hurry to get to a patient in extremis.
—Steve Mirsky, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2020
Machoian lingers too long on the protagonist’s stunned reaction — freak-out, panic, nausea, tears, anger — blurring the line between the character’s shattered state and Crawford flexing his acting muscles in an extended improv exercise of a man in extremis.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 June 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'in extremis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near in extremis
Cite this Entry
“In extremis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20extremis. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
in extremis
adverb
in ex·tre·mis
ˌin-ik-ˈstrē-məs
-ˈstrā-
-ˈstrā-
: at the point of death
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