Definition of exorbitantnext

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 Summer can be overly touristy, which means crowded beaches, landmarks, and restaurants, plus exorbitant prices. Sarah Souli, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2026 During the pandemic, compounders charged exorbitant prices for ivermectin, even after the drug proved ineffective against COVID-19. Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026 Predicting the negative consequences of exorbitant and rapid minimum wage hikes isn’t one of them. Editorial, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2026 Balle is so unbelievably good at rooting her narrator down into exorbitant details in the midst of an utterly ungrounded premise (being stuck in November 18th). Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exorbitant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exorbitant
Adjective
  • In a press release, the MacArthur Justice Center said Rahman was subjected to excessive force by federal agents.
    Maria Lisignoli, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026
  • The platform’s new AI agent, René, allows dispatchers and fleet managers to investigate operational inefficiencies through simple conversational queries, identifying the root causes of issues like excessive overtime or route deviations.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • San Francisco taqueria El Faro, credited with inventing the super burrito, may be forced to sell its restaurant, citing an extreme rent increase.
    Loureen Ayyoub, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • Such extreme pessimism has historically acted as a contrarian indicator for markets, Hartnett said, with prior lows in sentiment coinciding with key turning points for equities, including in October 2023 and April 2025.
    Yun Li, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • When insurance adjusters examined the roadway where the crashes were happening, there were no obvious hazards—like faulty lighting or an especially steep grade—that could account for this newfound profusion.
    Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Iran had largely shut down the strait to commercial vessels and in some cases demanded steep tolls for ships to pass.
    NPR Staff, NPR, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Money that was supposed to be divided among neighborhood charities was instead used to renovate a lakefront property in New Jersey, buy concert tickets, pay for his fancy car, and finance extravagant meals and luxury vacations in Hawaii and Las Vegas, according to an indictment.
    Larry Neumeister, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026
  • The Kardashians star shared some images from her daughter's extravagant party on her Instagram Story.
    Jen Juneau, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In an insane society, this is a project of years, not weeks.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Apr. 2026
  • If jurors do decide that Fahim was insane at the time of the killings, he would likely be sent to a state hospital for mental health treatment.
    Sean Emery, Oc Register, 14 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Exorbitant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exorbitant. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.

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