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
The peculiar requirement is an homage to Emma Stone’s character in the film, who is a bald-headed CEO who ends up kidnapped and suspected of being an alien. Andrew McGowan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2025 This debut from a precocious Brooklynite—also known as the frontman of Geese—feels like a bunch of late greats (Leonard Cohen, Dave Berman) got together with some hep alien spawn. Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
That comes into play for her when she’s kidnapped by a pair of conspiracy-addled cousins (Plemons and Aidan Delbis), who believe Stone’s character is a member of an alien race that has secretly been pushing Earth toward destruction. Joe Reid, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025 Everything human is alien to him. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
While on Earth, Thomas patents alien technology and gets very rich, with the intention of using it to build a vessel to bring water home. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Sep. 2022 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 See All Example Sentences for alien
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alien
Adjective
  • Whether or not Takaichi's administration is as tough on immigration issues as her campaign rhetoric suggests, some observers warn that failing to actively invest in and integrate foreign nationals into society will have lasting harm on Asia’s second-largest economy.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Chen kept ledgers of bribes, according to the indictment, and in 2019 a $3 million yacht was bought for a senior official in an unnamed foreign government.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 25 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Each was played a stream of speech that contained relevant comments and other irrelevant information, all spoken in a flat tone.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Its cable properties are increasingly irrelevant in the market, and networks like Logo, MTV and TV Land have been starved of new content for years.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The land was acquired by the company through the village in 2018 in a move that angered a lot residents but in 2023 the Foxconn project failed to live up to its original expectation.
    Ricardo Torres, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Others are angered that the visa requires only an undergraduate STEM degree, saying that is setting the bar too low at a time when young people in China feel pressured to rack up advanced degrees in order to compete with their peers in the job market.
    Peter Guo, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Holt, who has six cases pending in federal court over civil rights violation claims, said as soon as he was transferred, the state began trying to get the cases dismissed as moot, citing his relocation to West Virginia.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Statistics shared on their website shows that only approximately 2 million dogs were adopted last year, 554,000 were returned to their owner, 524,000 were transferred to other organizations, and 334,000 were euthanized.
    Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Raised by strangers due to his mother’s drug addiction, Guy has also struggled much of his life with hearing voices.
    Abbey White, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Inside, many near-strangers shared a salsa or bachata song.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The administration says this will eliminate the need for external tents during state events, something the president has complained about in the past.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
  • The primary cue the body uses to synchronize this cycle to its external environment is light.
    Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Sentiment among investors and consumers could sour as uncertainty looms over the economy, some economists warned, noting a feedback loop as participants brace for further pain and the ensuing pullback triggers sluggish economic performance.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2025
  • Views of Trump have even soured a little among Hispanic Republicans.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Subsequently, pressure mounted from Republicans for Jones to exit the race—a move which, at this late stage, would effectively cede the election.
    Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
  • Moscow continues to demand that Ukraine cede territory in any agreement to end the war.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alien. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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