ADVENTITIOUS Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

adventitious

adjective

ˌad-(ˌ)ven-ˈti-shəs

Definition of adventitious

as in extrinsic

not being a vital part of or belonging to something the point of view that art should be for art's sake and that moral considerations are adventitious to the study of art

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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 adventitious Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 5 July 2025 The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker. — Mark Greif, Harper's Magazine, 26 July 2024 The cut appears to have been high enough that the stump should still have enough adventitious buds to regrow. — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2023 This can also occur when trees are planted too deep, as adventitious (growing sideways from the stem) roots grow against the stem and squeeze the sapwood. — Rebecca Jepsen, The Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adventitious

Adjective

Educational psychology provides a useful framework for understanding this phenomenon through the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

— Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 July 2026
Extrinsic rewards, such as grades, do so because extrinsic desires tend to crowd out intrinsic ones.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Definition of extrinsic

Adjective

At that point, onboard autonomy takes over, making control link jamming largely irrelevant, Azhnyuk said.

— David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
And further back than that—the child my mother still describes, devouring books one after another, genre irrelevant.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of irrelevant

Adjective

Movement control Soft actuators are materials or devices that can bend, stretch, contract, or change their shape in response to an external trigger.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 12 Aug. 2026
Multiple internal and external compartments keep you ultra-organized; and there’s a dedicated laptop pocket for stashing your computer.

— Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of external

Adjective

Driscoll and others involved in the mission worried that something far less dramatic could derail it, such as an accidental weapon discharge, an isolated confrontation with a protester or a guardsman caught on camera behaving poorly.

— Steven Beynon, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
In these spaces, the risk of accidental contact with poison ivy is much higher.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of accidental

Adjective

If the objects’ origins were indeed found to be extraterrestrial, the technology of the alien species far eclipses any flying machines human beings have ever developed.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
They were forced to adapt to filmmaking modes and industries that were alien, smaller and less streamlined.

— John Bleasdale, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of alien

Adjective

Over the past few years, South Korea has made regulatory changes to court foreign investors and boost its domestic stock market.

— Stephanie Yang, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
Fuel supply meets reactor demand The deal comes as the US works to rebuild domestic uranium enrichment capacity and reduce dependence on foreign fuel supplies.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of foreign

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“Adventitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adventitious. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of adventitious

adjective

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