extreme

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​treme ik-ˈstrēm 

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

pictured on the extreme right in the photo

4

a

: most advanced or thoroughgoing

a member of the extreme political right/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

extreme

2 of 2

noun

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

less extremes of heat

b

: highest degree : maximum

wind speeds reaching their extreme

3

: an extreme measure or expedient

going to extremes

see also:

in the extreme

Synonyms of extreme

Adjective

• farthest

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of extreme in a Sentence

Adjective

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.

Noun

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 on the Web

Adjective

The situation is so extreme that in around 200 years, the planets won't line up in front of their star at all. —Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2026

There will be hot or cold towels produced depending on the hour of day, as temperature changes can be extreme; hot water bottles are placed between the sheets before bedtime and the rooms swiftly made up before returning from morning yoga. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026

Noun

In this sense, the micro-drama pushes to extremes a process that began in the age of streaming, in which scale, data, and iteration replace taste and intuition as the engines of cultural production. —Chang Che, New Yorker, 25 Apr. 2026

What might be a fairly routine affair — some performers change outfits nearly every song — is in Lowery’s latest taken to beguiling extremes when the pop star Mother Mary (Anne Hathaway) turns up wet and forlorn at the studio of her former fashion designer Sam Anselm (Michaela Coel). —Jake Coyle, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing extreme

• extreme risk law
• extreme risk protection order
• extreme unction
• from one extreme to the other
• go to extreme/great lengths
• in the extreme
• opposite/other extreme

Rhymes for extreme

• abeam
• airstream
• bloodstream
• daydream
• downstream
• esteem
• grapheme
• hakim
• hornbeam
• lexeme
• mainstream
• midstream

Kids Definition

extreme

1 of 2 adjective

ex·​treme ik-ˈstrēm 

1

: existing to a very great degree

extreme heat

extreme poverty

2

: farthest from a center

3

: most advanced or thorough

the extreme political right

4

: relating to a form of a sport that involves an unusually high degree of risk

extreme skiing

extremely adverb

extremeness noun

extreme

2 of 2 noun

1

: something situated as far away as possible from another

extremes of heat and cold

2

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

3

: a very pronounced or excessive degree

4

: an extraordinary measure

going to extremes