extremity

noun

ex·​trem·​i·​ty ik-ˈstre-mə-tē 

plural extremities

1

a

: the farthest or most remote part, section, or point

the island's westernmost extremity

b

: a limb of the body

especially : a human hand or foot

2

a

: extreme danger or critical need

b

: a moment marked by imminent destruction or death

3

a

: an intense degree

the extremity of his participation

—Saturday Rev.

b

: the utmost degree (as of emotion or pain)

4

: a drastic or desperate act or measure

driven to extremities

Synonyms

• boiling point
• breaking point
• clutch
• conjuncture
• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• crunch
• crunch time
• Dunkirk
• emergency
• exigency
• flash point
• head
• juncture
• tinderbox
• zero hour

Examples of extremity in a Sentence

The extremity of her grief is impossible to imagine.

made offers of aid to the refugees, and of asylum in extremity

Recent Examples on the Web

The deer was seen lying down with all its extremities splayed out. —Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 30 Nov. 2023

On the Amazon broadcast, it was announced that Burks has movement in all his extremities. —Phil Helsel, NBC News, 3 Nov. 2023

Whatever scholars conclude, though, the force of the Christian example surely lies in the extremity of the deity’s abasement, tortured to death in the most humiliatingly imaginable way and left to be buried as a criminal. —Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2023

Jackson, working with cinematographer Jomo Fray (who shot the picture on 35mm), photographs those extremities with enough grace and attention to suggest that the French master Robert Bresson might be one of her many influences. —Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2023

Boyle’s third infection, though mild, exacerbated lingering symptoms from her first illness, such as fatigue and swelling in her extremities. —Aria Bendix, NBC News, 8 Oct. 2023

House Republicans didn’t have a policy or a principle to justify the extremity of their position on the eve of the shutdown. —Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 1 Oct. 2023

But their garments are still fashionable; they are beautifully made separates with mindful details like sleeves and pant legs cut at an angle to consider the natural bend of our extremities. —José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 19 Sep. 2023

Family YouTuber arrested on abuse charges Ruby Franke, a Utah mother whose strict parenting styles have led to backlash in the past, was arrested this week on child abuse charges after a malnourished child with open wounds and duct tape on their extremities was found. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 1 Sep. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Kids Definition

extremity

noun

ex·​trem·​i·​ty ik-ˈstrem-ət-ē 

plural extremities

1

: the farthest limit, point, or part

2

: an end part of a limb of the body (as a hand or foot)

3

: an extreme degree (as of emotion or pain)

Medical Definition

extremity

noun

ex·​trem·​i·​ty ik-ˈstrem-ət-ē 

plural extremities

1

: the farthest or most remote part, section, or point

2

: a limb of the body

especially : a human hand or foot