1
as in limit
a real or imaginary point beyond which a person or thing cannot go
the coach exceeded the extent of his authority by exempting some of the players from the requirement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in expansion
a wide space or area
the seemingly endless extent of the windswept prairies
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in scope
an area over which activity, capacity, or influence extends
the extent of this criminal investigation has widened considerably since it began
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in size
the total amount of measurable space or surface occupied by something
looking at the extent of the stain on my shirt, you might think that I had spilled a gallon of coffee
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extent
Since Cohen became the majority owner in 2021, the leaders have been Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, Pete Alonso, Max Scherzer and to a lesser extent, Starling Marte.
—
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
But, when Obama delivered the speech, few recognized the full extent of the emergency to come.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the same extent as drugs.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2026
But the extent of our housing affordability crisis is more disturbing than ever before.
—Margi Glavovic Nothard, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extent
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
But, when Obama delivered the speech, few recognized the full extent of the emergency to come.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 16 Feb. 2026
Supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the same extent as drugs.
—Lana Barhum, Verywell Health, 16 Feb. 2026
But the extent of our housing affordability crisis is more disturbing than ever before.
—Margi Glavovic Nothard, Sun Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extent
Noun
-
Even the Dodgers, the cartoon villains of spending, kind of sort of have a limit.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
On the first wet dress rehearsal, NASA was able to load the SLS rocket core and upper stages with 700,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen (LH2) and liquid oxygen (LOX), but during the final test countdown run, an LH2 supply line leak into the core stage exceeded acceptable limits and cut the test short.—
Richard Tribou,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Private consumption drove the modest expansion, offsetting weakness in exports and public spending, according to data from Japan’s Cabinet Office.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The agency's unilateral expansion of government power is dangerous, and not only for immigrant families.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Still, the department is sweeping in its scope, responsible not only for immigration enforcement, but also disaster response and airport security.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
14 Feb. 2026
-
As is tradition in adaptations of Wuthering Heights, Fennell’s film narrows its scope to Heathcliff and Cathy’s relationship and ends with her death.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Ranger Road megafire is the largest, scorching more than 283,000 acres in Oklahoma and Kansas — an area nearly twice the size of Chicago.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
-
My 270-square-foot Deluxe Room was cozy without being cramped, not an easy feat considering its size.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Louis Angles, a Clay County judge, however, chose to decrease King’s bail to $2 million cash with additional limitations.—
Jenna Ebbers,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Questions and limitations of relying on DNA While police have increasingly used genetic databases to solve high-profile cases, the practice has long prompted ethical and privacy concerns.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
19 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The 100-light-year-wide expanse of the Rosette Nebula is estimated to have a staggering mass the equivalent to 10,000 suns and has been sculpted and eroded by the radiation from nearby stars.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Here, though The Unknown touches on many of the same expanse of themes — there’s a recurring beat, which Hayes plays well, on the loneliness of being a gay man of a certain age — Cale’s construction is tidier and neater.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The conclusion that emerges is that transatlantic slavery was foundational, and known to be so, during the westward expansion of the British royal realm.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
-
There’s a wonderful landscape to wander through in that realm of what’s over here.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Now, the story is making its way to the stage, adding yet another dimension to a narrative that has proven its enduring power.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Callie is popular and vivacious, perpetually surrounded by admirers and various hangers-on (Audrey Grace Marshall’s Cara is hellbent on usurping Minnie’s place in Callie’s life, while her himbo-esque boyfriend Brad is given wonderful dimension through Beck Nolan’s sneaky-good performance).—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extent. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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