EXTANT Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

extant

adjective

ˈek-stənt

Definition of extant

as in existing

having being at the present time a celebrated author who is generally regarded as America's greatest novelist extant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in current

existing or in progress right now when people envisage the future, they often base their predictions on the assumption that extant trends will continue indefinitely

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 extant But more often, the new institution ends up competing with its still extant predecessor. — Jennifer Pahlka, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 Thus far this century, several fundamental changes in the healthcare system have succeeded in getting passed in Congress, perhaps in part due to their working more or less within the confines of an extant system. — Joshua P. Cohen, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Red dwarfs are very volatile bodies, giving off enormous amounts of X-rays and ultraviolet energy, both of which can destroy extant life or prevent it from getting started in the first place. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 16 July 2026 After Rogers left his job at the store, husband and wife had a go at a similar scheme, shilling aluminum cookware for the company Wear-Ever Aluminum (still extant as WearEver Cookware). — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for extant

Recent Examples of Synonyms for extant

Adjective

Economies have adjusted, while existing buffers and policy responses have helped absorb the shock.

— Jihad Azour, semafor.com, 5 Nov. 2026
Before being booked, Joseph was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital for treatment of minor, pre-existing injuries to his hand that were present prior to his arrest, investigators said.

— Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of existing

Adjective

The current titleholder of largest artificial reef is the USS Oriskany, a former aircraft carrier sunk in 2006 off the coast of Pensacola, Florida.

— Todd C. Frankel, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
The governor described the GOP's current dynamic as a natural process for a party whose leader is deep in his second term.

— STEVEN SLOAN, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of current

Adjective

Yourex originally faced five felony charges, but pleaded guilty in April to a misdemeanor count of knowingly registering a non-existent person to vote.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Their running game has been almost non-existent this season, especially compared to last year.

— David Troy OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of existent

Adjective

Aleksandra Karapetrova, an alpine enthusiast and environmental scientist at the University of California, Riverside, used her unique skill set to find that microplastics are present in remote Sierra Nevada mountain snow reachable only on skis.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026
The fact that Chris may have been present in Dallas on that November day in 1963 intrigued the actor as well.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Nov. 2026

Definition of present

Adjective

Andrew Julien, executive editor at the Daily News, said in an email the organization aims to create stricter guardrails against AI on the site, given the publication’s ongoing litigation against Microsoft and OpenAI.

— Max Tani, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
Many of the bodies recovered have not been identified and DNA analysis is ongoing.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2026