alien 1 of 3

Definition of aliennext

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
Peter isn’t just unprepared to care for a child; the idea of children is almost alien to him. Alison Willmore, Vulture, 15 May 2026 Rooms The 14 villas are a masterclass in raw materiality—brick, concrete, clay, and sand, all sourced locally, stacked into forms that feel simultaneously ancient and alien. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Noun
The longer answer is that there are pages and pages of old FBI records, unresolved cases, eyewitness interviews, and the usual grainy, black-and-white images that show dots but nothing remotely conclusive about aliens, alien spaceships, or any alien technology. Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026 The design closely resembles Rocky from the novel, including the alien’s distinctive posture and lively gestures. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 8 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for alien
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alien
Adjective
  • The task force, made up of various law enforcement agencies, targets criminal cartels, foreign gangs, transnational criminal organizations, and human smuggling and trafficking rings operating in the United States and abroad.
    Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
  • China will penalize brokerages accused of illegally moving money to foreign markets, Reuters reported .
    Darla Mercado, CFP®, CNBC, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • Without it, the risk isn’t lagging behind but becoming irrelevant.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • And Thursday night’s performance, while not wholly irrelevant, was just another television rerun broadcast to a less-than-mass audience.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • Set in 1986, the story follows two brothers, Irwin and Gary Pearl, whose get-rich scheme to help clean up the Gowanus Canal ends in disaster after Irwin (Teller), a nebbish family man, angers Russian mobsters by unwittingly witnessing their criminal activity.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 16 May 2026
  • The delay angered rural Republicans, who wanted to see the farm bill passed.
    Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • The bright spots Saturday, at least in the early stages, was the play of the Evans defense, new quarterback Will Jackson and transfer running backs O’Ryan Hartfield, from Ocoee, and Davion Williams, from Poinciana.
    Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 17 May 2026
  • The sentiment transfers well to potato salad.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 May 2026
Noun
  • November 22 – December 21 A practical detail around money, access, or trust may decide whether a serious conversation gets easier or stranger.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 23 May 2026
  • Collet-Serra directed and executive produced the film that focused on Egerton as an inexperienced TSA agent who ends up in a battle of wits with a mysterious traveler (Bateman) after the stranger blackmails him into allowing a dangerous package onto a flight on Christmas Eve.
    Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • Shaw recommended for the city to seek an external review of the department’s financial practices to further examine the issue.
    Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
  • CalPERS’ underfunded status is a result of investments in non-public assets, and particularly because the fund pays excessive fees to external managers, his report claims.
    William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • The deals made the Rangers deeper, but Keenan’s forceful nature began to sour the GM-coach relationship.
    Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 21 May 2026
  • As the first half wound down, the Knicks were trailing by just two points, but the mood within the watch party was starting to sour.
    Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • After the fallout over the Epstein files’ revelations on Mandelson, Rayner led a lawmakers’ revolt to force the government to cede control to Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee to decide which documents should be released into the public domain.
    ABC News, ABC News, 14 May 2026
  • Backemeyer raised more than $350,000 to win his primary, suggesting the party is unlikely to cede the field.
    David Weigel, semafor.com, 14 May 2026

Cite this Entry

“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alien. Accessed 23 May. 2026.

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