Definition of inordinatenext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of inordinate are excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, and immoderate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

When is excessive a more appropriate choice than inordinate?

The words excessive and inordinate can be used in similar contexts, but excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When could exorbitant be used to replace inordinate?

The words exorbitant and inordinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

When can extravagant be used instead of inordinate?

The meanings of extravagant and inordinate largely overlap; however, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

Where would extreme be a reasonable alternative to inordinate?

Although the words extreme and inordinate have much in common, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

When is it sensible to use immoderate instead of inordinate?

The synonyms immoderate and inordinate are sometimes interchangeable, but immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

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 inordinate First, there is no denying that Busch had an inordinate amount of talent. Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 24 May 2026 For some Americans—particularly those who already spend an inordinate amount of time on their phone and computer—the introduction of AI led to a similar experience. Kevin Frazier, Fortune, 13 May 2026 Inevitably, team evil has cooler powers, like Sindel’s scream and Kung Lao’s hat of doom, but in addition to allotting an inordinate amount of its combat time to Shao Kahn, who’s just a hulking guy with a hammer, the movie’s big visual idea is characters blasting one another with beams. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 6 May 2026 Copyright extensions are criticized for keeping information out of the public domain for inordinate amounts of time. Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inordinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inordinate
Adjective
  • The federal government's warning about the dangers of excessive screen time is sending shockwaves through households and classrooms alike, drawing comparisons to public health crises of the past.
    La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 11 June 2026
  • Social media users have documented taking excessive amounts of diphenhydramine in an attempt to overcome the medication's drowsy effects and experience a euphoric feeling.
    Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 11 June 2026
Adjective
  • After the game, the team were addressed by a group of government officials who, according to Ilunga at least, threatened them with extreme consequences if things went really badly in their game against Brazil.
    Nick Miller, New York Times, 17 June 2026
  • After all the angst about traffic, high ticket prices, long security lines and extreme heat, stadium operations ran relatively smoothly.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • In one of them he was seen hanging from the edge of a rocky cliff using his bare hands, his legs dangling toward a steep slope in a risky performance without safety equipment.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
  • Echoing this enthusiasm, President and CEO Sean Dalfen said finding high-quality assets at such a steep discount is increasingly rare, offering the firm strong in-place cash flow alongside flexible exit strategies.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • Rivians aren’t alone in the realm of insane reports of repair costs.
    Joel Feder, The Drive, 11 June 2026
  • The whole thing is kind of insane.
    Marlow Stern, Variety, 10 June 2026
Adjective
  • Rather than trying to gulp the slimy thing down, Wilkinson went into the kitchen and prepared an extravagant breakfast for himself, complete with Dr Pepper to wash it down.
    Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 12 June 2026
  • Often referred to as the Versailles Townhouse, the property is among the Upper East Side‘s most extravagant private residences.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Inordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inordinate. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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