1
as in extrinsic
not being a vital part of or belonging to something
the defendant's socioeconomic status must be regarded as entirely external to his guilt or innocence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outer
situated on the outside or farther out
the external chambers of the ancient tomb gave little indication of the magnificence of the innermost chamber
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of external
This articulation doesn’t happen, however, without the internal and external obstruction that precedes it.
—
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Self-belief comes from self-work, always a worthy investment of time and energy, but discipline is needed to exit the external noise.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
Self-belief comes from self-work — always a worthy investment of time and energy, but discipline is needed to exit the external noise.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Elliott’s presence justified the urgency required and its endorsement of Niccol gave the board the external credibility to act quickly.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for external
Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Self-belief comes from self-work, always a worthy investment of time and energy, but discipline is needed to exit the external noise.
—Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 10 Jan. 2026
Self-belief comes from self-work — always a worthy investment of time and energy, but discipline is needed to exit the external noise.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 10 Jan. 2026
Elliott’s presence justified the urgency required and its endorsement of Niccol gave the board the external credibility to act quickly.
—Kenneth Squire, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for external
Recent Examples of Synonyms for external
Adjective
-
Common in the Ninth Circuit, the extrinsic test looks at comparison, context and, in a case like this, specific plot elements.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Nonetheless, too many workplaces are organized around extrinsic rewards such as money, titles, team size, and proximity to power, which can spark effort in the short run but rarely sustain it.—
Jon Rosemberg,
Fortune,
9 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Scientists refer to this outer atmospheric region as the geocorona.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Normally, the lean pork used in tacos al pastor is layered and threaded onto a large rotisserie — known as a trompo — from which cooks shave outer bits of meat into tortillas.—
The New York Times News Service Syndicate,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Sure, pundits and Twitter philosophers love to portray bowl games as irrelevant relics of the past that nobody cares about anymore.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The characters are lying, to themselves and to each other, but the role of the audience in believing or not believing their lies is totally irrelevant.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Kipling City Pack Backpack Pocket space is at the very heart of this backpack’s design, which has over five different compartments on the interior and exterior.—
Michelle Baricevic,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Standout design aspects include the pebble leather exterior and roomy shoulder strap that’s long enough to fit over coats.—
Izzy Baskette,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The author emphasizes that this represents meaningful action, in contrast to years of unfulfilled political promises to address foreign competition.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Some foreign ports even refuse tankers with heavy crude.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
11 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Since both of those earlier years were influenced by a strong El Niño event, this one will have the dubious distinction of being the hottest without such an extraneous force.—
Bill McKibben,
New Yorker,
9 Dec. 2025
-
Tech and data aren’t extraneous.—
Maggie Johnson,
Fortune,
8 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
5 July 2025
-
The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker.—
Mark Greif,
Harper's Magazine,
26 July 2024
Adjective
-
Add an extra rinse cycle if using chlorine bleach to prevent accidental bleaching of fabrics.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The actor's cause of death was later revealed to be an accidental overdose.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“External.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/external. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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