exterior 1 of 2

adjective

ek-ˈstir-ē-ər How to pronounce exterior (audio)
Definition of exteriornext
as in outer
situated on the outside or farther out the house's exterior walls badly need to be painted

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

exterior

2 of 2

noun

as in surface
an outer part or layer the exterior of the tooth consists of very hard enamel

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 exterior
Adjective
Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from a Casey’s convenience store there and identified a woman who was seen walking near an exterior trash can. — Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 Revived signs The Cub’s exterior sign, and name, came from a now-defunct Cub Tavern that operated from the 1940s to 1980s where Bar Gernika now serves lamb grinders. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 3 Sep. 2026
Noun
That golden brown exterior tasted exceptional, but eating it came with some hurdles. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 3 Sep. 2026 The developers now plan to rehabilitate the building to add apartments and tenant amenities while restoring the exterior to its historic appearance, alongside adding a nearby dog park and a surface parking lot. — Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for exterior
Recent Examples of Synonyms for exterior
  1. outer
  2. surface
  3. front
Adjective
  • These moments of hormonal upheaval are linked to a rewiring of neural networks and reductions in the volume of the brain’s outer, wrinkly layer—called cortical gray matter—which plays a role in memory, reasoning and movement.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Spacecraft are typically protected from debris impacts by some form of a Whipple shield, which has a thin outer bumper with a space between the bumper and the wall of the spacecraft.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of outer
Noun
  • So do the engine, the drivetrain, the burning tires and the sweltering track surface.
    — Patrick Iversen, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Its 30% Saccharomyces yeast ferment contains 3% N-acetylglucosamine, an amino sugar that gently encourages surface exfoliation without relying on AHAs or BHAs, helping skin look smoother and more even with less potential for irritation.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of surface
Noun
  • The wow factor that had coaches and GMs gushing over the quarterback during the offseason was almost nowhere to be seen as Tulsa’s defensive front was in Mestemaker’s face most of Saturday.
    — Antonio Morales, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Moore’s Mona Friedman is indeed a familiar figure, a shy and impressionable wife who quietly nods along at dinner, lets people cut in front of her at the store, and seems generally uninterested in sticking up for herself.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of front

Browse Nearby Words

extenuations
exterior
exteriors
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Exterior.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/exterior. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of hobnob

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All