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
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 extent
The problem is that to some extent, those qualities exist in the eye of the beholder.
—
Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
All politicians spin and distort to some extent, of course.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
The woman was last listed in stable condition, but the extent of her injuries is not known at this time.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
To some extent, our own actions had driven up the prices.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extent
Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026
All politicians spin and distort to some extent, of course.
—Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
The woman was last listed in stable condition, but the extent of her injuries is not known at this time.
—Patrick Damp, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
To some extent, our own actions had driven up the prices.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extent
Noun
-
LiDAR is expensive, radar has limits — so cameras are the likely path.—
Jamie Gold,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
These transfers are subject to annual Roth IRA contribution limits and the beneficiary must have earned income.—
Natalie Wu,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Howard, who had served as a second lieutenant with the Ninety‑Second Division, 366th Infantry in France during World War I, accused President Truman of using the Cold War to justify a sweeping peacetime expansion of America’s global military footprint.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
India is positioning itself as the testbed where energy infrastructure meets AI expansion.—
Güney Yıldız,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The White House didn't immediately respond to a query seeking clarity about the scope and timing of any limited pause.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
However, a 2004 census of the Barents Sea polar bear population counted approximately 2,650 individuals and that number did not shrink in size until recently.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Since its launch in 2019, the podcast has grown dramatically in size and scope, hosting some of the biggest names in fitness, wellness, and entertainment.—
Mike Wehner,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For example, there are income limitations on tax-free tips, and only up to $25,000 of tips per return can be tax free.—
Kelly Phillips Erb,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
That’s not to mention the physical limitations of an extremely bulky spacesuit, which could physically tax astronauts even more than stepping outside of the International Space Station during a spacewalk.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Located on Siesta Key near downtown Sarasota on the state's west coast, this kid-friendly beach has a wide expanse of soft, powdery white, quartz-crystal sand that somehow doesn’t get hot in the Florida sun.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
-
It’s perfectly situated for wanders down the beautiful expanse of Flamand beach or hikes to the highest point of the island.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His talent for pulling music out of phase, bending instruments to his will and inspiring the room into new realms really pushed Maren and me to summon fresh melodies and new stories out of our writing.—
Melinda Newman,
Billboard,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Indeed, in the elevated realm of whiskey auctioneering new benchmarks are still being set in 2026.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Lee is expected to get some reps this spring at the team’s Papago Park complex, where one of the practice fields features the exact dimensions of the Giants’ waterfront ballpark.—
Andrew Baggarly,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
This look uses a mix of regular and shimmer polishes to add even more dimension.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extent. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
