extreme

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adjective ex·treme \ 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 (such 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

—

extremeness

noun

See extreme defined for English-language learners

See extreme defined for kids

Examples of extreme in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of extreme from the Web

The model’s zoomed-in view also predicted the extreme rainfall totals seen by Houston some 5 days in advance, says Shian-Jiann Lin, the GFDL scientist who led the development of the code powering FV3.

— paul voosen, Science | AAAS, "Hurricane Harvey provides lab for U.S. forecast experiments," 28 Aug. 2017
Many of them live in extreme poverty - earning less than $12,000 a year for a family of four.

— amy yurkanin, AL.com, "Poor, rural and addicted: Drugs drive surge in white women in prison," 24 Aug. 2017
Effective deterrents include air horns, hoses or – in extreme cases – pepper spray.

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Local residents warned to watch for coyotes," 24 Aug. 2017
If left untreated, toxic stress from repeated and frequent exposure to extreme behaviors and environments increases the risk of developing diseases as an adult, including asthma, heart disease, depression, stroke and diabetes.

— mark beckford, Washington Post, "Baltimore uses trauma research to improve life for poor parents and their children," 20 Aug. 2017
The Silicon Valley elite have long loved extreme water sports (there is an entire tech and kitesurfing conference circuit).

— nellie bowles, New York Times, "Silicon Valley Flocks to Foiling, Racing Above the Bay’s Waves," 20 Aug. 2017
The reclusive sisters have stuck to their lives of high fashion and extreme privacy for more than a decade now, having moved on from being child star moguls to fashion moguls seemingly effortlessly.

— erika harwood, vanityfair.com, "Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen’s Hobbies Remain the Only Constants in a World of Chaos," 18 Aug. 2017
Scientists highlighted recent extreme weather in the Pacific Northwest, where a prolonged dry spell and unusual 100-degree weather followed an extraordinarily wet winter, sparking wildfires.

— Bloomberg.com, "July Was the 2nd Hottest Month in Recorded History," 17 Aug. 2017
Extreme politicians are trying to defund and shut down Planned Parenthood — and this is not what Americans want.

— veronica hilbring, Essence.com, "U.S. Appeals Court: Arkansas Can Block Medicaid Funding To Planned Parenthood," 17 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extreme.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of extreme

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

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First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

extreme Synonyms

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

Synonym Discussion of extreme

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

extreme

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

See extreme defined for English-language learners

Examples of extreme in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of extreme from the Web

Gilbert is one of those singers who mostly writes his own material, which gives his songs a feel of realness, of a life lived close to some extremes.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Country's Brantley Gilbert At Xfinity," 30 Aug. 2017
What both extremes share is a common loathing of America, and American civilization.

— j. j. mccullough, National Review, "I Love America (and the Alt-Right Doesn’t)," 28 Aug. 2017
In the extreme, inadequate water balance can cause the body to shut down and eventually die.

— bryant stamford, The Courier-Journal, "It's not just athletes that need to hydrate. Why the 'Average Joe' needs to up his water intake," 24 Aug. 2017
As America’s driest state, Nevada is a utopia of extremes.

— jim mangan, The Cut, "Mysticism and Fall Fashion Collide in the Mojave Desert," 24 Aug. 2017
Accordingly, the president must take remedial action in the extreme.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Romney Takes Trump to the Woodshed, Calls for Presidential Apology," 18 Aug. 2017
World War II continues to give forth unique tales of resistance under authoritarianism, of heroism, bravery; individuals driven to extremes under oppression.

— katie walsh, charlotteobserver, "‘13 Minutes’ is story of man who tried to kill Hitler," 10 Aug. 2017
As Annaliese Griffin pointed out for Quartz, the American healthcare system, while undeniably terrible for nearly everyone, damages women to an extreme.

— danielle tcholakian, Longreads, "The Case for Believing Women Who Are In Pain," 7 Aug. 2017
In fact a microsaur 30 cm long would be large; at the other extreme, others were adult at less than 12 cm.

— darren naish, Scientific American Blog Network, "The Microsaurs of Yore," 7 July 2017

First Known Use of extreme

1555

EXTREME Defined for English Language Learners

extreme

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adjective

Definition of extreme for English Language Learners

: very great in degree
: very serious or severe
: very far from agreeing with the opinions of most people : not moderate

extreme

noun

Definition of extreme for English Language Learners

: either one of two opposite conditions, feelings, positions, etc., that are thought of as being far from what is normal or reasonable
: an amount or degree that is far beyond what is normal or reasonable

EXTREME Defined for Kids

extreme

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adjective ex·treme \ ik-ˈstrēm \

Definition of extreme for Students

1 :very great in degree or severity

extreme heat

extreme poverty

2 :farthest away

the extreme edge

3 :more demanding or dangerous than normal

extreme sports

—

extremely

adverb

extreme

noun

Definition of extreme for Students

1 :something as far as possible from a center or from its opposite

extremes of heat and cold

2 :the greatest possible degree :maximum

He pushed the athletes to the extreme.

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extreme

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extreme

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extreme

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extreme

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extremely

extreme

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