alien 1 of 3

alien

2 of 3

verb

alien

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alien different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of alien are extraneous, extrinsic, and foreign. While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.

a practice totally alien to her nature

In what contexts can extraneous take the place of alien?

The synonyms extraneous and alien are sometimes interchangeable, but extraneous applies to what is on or comes from the outside and may or may not be capable of becoming an essential part.

arguments extraneous to the issue

When is it sensible to use extrinsic instead of alien?

While in some cases nearly identical to alien, extrinsic applies to what is distinctly outside the thing in question or is not contained in or derived from its essential nature.

sentimental value that is extrinsic to the house's market value

When could foreign be used to replace alien?

The words foreign and alien are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foreign applies to what is so different as to be rejected or repelled or to be incapable of becoming assimilated.

techniques foreign to French cuisine

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 alien
Adjective
Burchett's statements about underwater alien bases have not been verified. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025 Share [Findings] Astrophysicists argued that the development of advanced alien technology requires an atmosphere composed of at least 18 percent oxygen. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
But even that description fails to capture what Yagi is after: those parts of us, precious and possibly hostile, which flower in darkness, disintegrate when described, and can be compared only to alien life-forms. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Neanderthal to alien, and yet strangely well-suited for the modern era. Nick Remsen, CNN, 30 Sep. 2021
Noun
This deliberate decision to not cooperate with federal immigration authorities is giving safe harbor to criminal aliens that need to be removed from our country and this county. Brie Stimson, Fox News, 25 Jan. 2025 This is why Japanese citizens were designated enemy aliens after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor but why members of Al Qaeda, a stateless terror group, weren’t after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Rick Jervis, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for alien 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alien
Adjective
  • Founded in 1919, the covert organization spied on American citizens and foreign nations alike.
    Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Feb. 2025
  • And a recent spat between Tesla’s founder, Elon Musk, and MAGA loyalists over visas for foreign specialists showed that elements of the Republican coalition are too opposed to immigrants to attract the talent that Silicon Valley requires.
    Michael Schuman, The Atlantic, 4 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • If there’s no media deal, the grant-of-rights is irrelevant.
    Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 31 Jan. 2025
  • Suddenly, those other questions were irrelevant to Saul co-creator Peter Gould, who only cared about the survival and health of his leading man and friend, and who assumed the series would stop abruptly if Odenkirk died or simply couldn’t return.
    Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 28 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The statement angered Washington officials, who told reporters that Ukraine was downplaying deliveries to get more support from European countries.
    Erin Banco, Anastasiia Malenko, USA TODAY, 3 Feb. 2025
  • President Trump’s controversial pick for director of national intelligence angered Republicans by refusing to condemn government leaker Edward Snowden as well as her unorthodox foreign policy views on Russia and Syria, among other concerns.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The ruling prevents prison officials from transferring them to men’s facilities or restricting their access to medical care while the legal challenge moves forward.
    Kaelan Deese, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Tramon Mark, who played one season at Arkansas after three at Houston, transferred to Texas and averages 9.6 points per game.
    Anthony Kristensen, arkansasonline.com, 5 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • Catholic social teaching, which is founded on the life and words of Jesus Christ and built on a commitment to the poor and the strangers among us, guides this work and animates those individuals who financially support it.
    William McCarthy, Baltimore Sun, 5 Feb. 2025
  • Khoury notes that people often project their frustrations onto strangers, leading to unnecessary conflicts.
    Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
  • Rather than trying to fill his emotional needs via external means, the real mission in his trip through OBEX is regaining interest in the game of life.
    Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025
  • However, stepping away from the WHO and reducing international health aid could hinder efforts to address life-threatening diseases and outbreaks, particularly in lower-income nations that rely on external support for essential healthcare services.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • After contract extension talks with Miami decision-makers soured over the summer, Butler has made life difficult for the Heat.
    Alex Kirschenbaum, Newsweek, 3 Feb. 2025
  • But, as those wars dragged on, the public mood soured.
    Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Lands can be ceded to Indian Tribes by governments, public entities, and private landowners.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 31 Jan. 2025
  • That’s concerning because the country is ceding valuable opportunities to learn from and compete with apps emerging from outside its sphere of influence.
    Selina Xu, Fortune, 31 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near alien

Cite this Entry

“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alien. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

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