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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 George’s only hope of hanging onto the ridiculously extravagant life he’s pitched to Hedda is securing a professorial position at the local university. Abby Monteil, Them., 28 Oct. 2025 An extravagant adventure ensues. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025 While salad may have been on the menu during the hectic day, the evening's eats were much more extravagant and fitting for the event. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025 This has led to a fascinating social landscape, with a number of exclusive private members’ clubs as well as ski-in/ski-out homes designed by the Jackson Home Company that provide an extravagant lifestyle while maintaining the area’s rugged character. Charles Curkin, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extravagant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extravagant
Adjective
  • Paul Taylor What the data says Forest’s Champions League push collapsed last season after wasteful finishing, and that profligacy has carried over into the new campaign.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025
  • But dishcloths are less wasteful and very easy to clean and reuse.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2025
  • But Walpole’s excitement was curbed when they were flagged for excessive celebration.
    Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • If auto insurance with one carrier is more expensive than with another, a discount may not offset the difference.
    Liz Knueven, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Why are consumers facing more expensive Affordable Care Act health insurance?
    Ken Alltucker, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The research team claims that their strategy offers a novel approach to developing high-performance cathodes capable of operating under extreme temperatures.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The scale runs from G1, minor, to G5, extreme.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Most teams could use a hitter like Schwarber in the lineup, especially considering how valuable slugging has become in the modern era.
    Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Nov. 2025
  • SeatGeek co-founder Eric Waller said the company has refined its rules around bots while still restricting them to prevent scalpers from coming in and automatically buying valuable seats.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • His votes, like his tattoos, just weren’t insane enough anymore.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • His voice messages of songs are amazing and insane.
    Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Norwood also argued that the company did not look at other less costly options.
    Sydney Sasser, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The production has been costly, so results need to be good for the show, which comes from the same creatives behind High Water – a show about a huge central European flood in 1997.
    Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Kris' birthday party comes days after the Kardashian-Jenner family celebrated Kendall turning 30 at a lavish beachfront destination.
    Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Meanwhile, endless construction, the Siegels’ lavish (but tacky) lifestyle and their chaotic family life buzz in the background.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extravagant. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

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