Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of exorbitant are excessive, extravagant, extreme, immoderate, and inordinate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

When might excessive be a better fit than exorbitant?

Although the words excessive and exorbitant have much in common, excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When would extravagant be a good substitute for exorbitant?

The words extravagant and exorbitant are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

When could extreme be used to replace exorbitant?

The meanings of extreme and exorbitant largely overlap; however, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Where would immoderate be a reasonable alternative to exorbitant?

The words immoderate and exorbitant can be used in similar contexts, but immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

When can inordinate be used instead of exorbitant?

The synonyms inordinate and exorbitant are sometimes interchangeable, but inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

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 exorbitant The trick was just finding that next pile of exorbitant wealth and luring it in with our siren song of cultural relevance and creative ambition. John Lopez, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2025 With sports standing as the only TV format that seems able to attract the large, simultaneous audiences that advertisers and distributors crave, the fees to keep them on air have gone from eye-popping to exorbitant. Brian Steinberg, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025 The Bypass, too, sees little traffic despite its exorbitant cost. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 In the end, the defense was on the field for an exorbitant amount of time — more than 35 minutes. Jenna West, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for exorbitant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exorbitant
Adjective
  • There was excessive growth of microtubules that wasn’t caused by an increase in gene activity, but likely due to the cells failing to clear away old or misfolded proteins.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 8 Nov. 2025
  • But Walpole’s excitement was curbed when they were flagged for excessive celebration.
    Justin Barrasso, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The research team claims that their strategy offers a novel approach to developing high-performance cathodes capable of operating under extreme temperatures.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The scale runs from G1, minor, to G5, extreme.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Best Early Black Friday Target Kitchen Deals The sale brings steep discounts to top kitchen brands like Ninja, Keurig, and KitchenAid.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
  • His mental health went into a steep decline.
    Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The boom in production costs has been blamed on high talent prices, stemming from extravagant spending by big streamers in recent years.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Not every Tesla investor was on board with the extravagant deal.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • His votes, like his tattoos, just weren’t insane enough anymore.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2025
  • His voice messages of songs are amazing and insane.
    Kristin Robinson, Billboard, 6 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Exorbitant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exorbitant. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on exorbitant

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