Definition of extravagantnext
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Synonym Chooser

How is the word extravagant different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of extravagant are excessive, exorbitant, extreme, immoderate, and inordinate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

When is excessive a more appropriate choice than extravagant?

While the synonyms excessive and extravagant are close in meaning, excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When would exorbitant be a good substitute for extravagant?

The synonyms exorbitant and extravagant are sometimes interchangeable, but exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

In what contexts can extreme take the place of extravagant?

While in some cases nearly identical to extravagant, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Where would immoderate be a reasonable alternative to extravagant?

In some situations, the words immoderate and extravagant are roughly equivalent. However, immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

When is it sensible to use inordinate instead of extravagant?

The meanings of inordinate and extravagant largely overlap; however, inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

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 extravagant To that end, Nate's extravagant wedding infuriates Naz, who thinks Nate has the ability to pay him back but is holding out on him. Jordana Comiter, PEOPLE, 27 Apr. 2026 The shrimp cocktail idea came from Auduoy’s desire to make Cassie’s wedding both extravagant and comical. Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 26 Apr. 2026 Pop star Dua Lipa and actor Callum Turner will soon tie the knot in an extravagant ceremony. Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Apr. 2026 Inspired to give your home an extravagant upgrade with the addition of an outdoor sauna? Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for extravagant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extravagant
Adjective
  • Is its packaging consciously designed or needlessly wasteful?
    Sarah Felbin, Allure, 30 Apr. 2026
  • That is, defining success and failure criteria early, testing assumptions quickly and containing any downside before commitment becomes wasteful.
    Kumar Rakesh Ranjan, The Conversation, 27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • The authors argued that the typical American diet contained excessive calories and fat and lacked sufficient amounts of complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026
  • This development enables high-performance batteries to function without the bulky pressurization hardware that often adds excessive weight and volume to electric vehicle battery packs.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Easily the riskiest entry of the year so far, this expensive — $200 million but who’s counting — Amazon MGM Studios gamble, powered by Ryan Gosling’s star turn as a lonely astronaut, has made $573 million globally, justifying its steep costs.
    Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 2 May 2026
  • The music power couple paid nearly $200 million for a Malibu residence designed by Tadao Ando, marking the most expensive home ever sold in California up until that point (the following year, another mansion changed hands for $210 million, a record that still holds).
    Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • Typical pulsating aurora displays last 10 to 20 minutes, but Kerss had captured almost three hours of extreme pulsating auroras — an unusually powerful display and one of the longest on record, according to the statement.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Threats are growing from more extreme weather.
    Michael Copley, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • In other security news, OpenAI is ditching passwords in favor of hardware security keys, which is a welcome change considering how valuable ChatGPT accounts can be, especially for those willing to shell out money for pro-level accounts.
    Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 1 May 2026
  • The non-profit, Kids First Chicago, told CBS News Chicago that parents also expressed concern over the loss of valuable learning time.
    Asal Rezaei, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • Bringing his bag of insane tricks and witty banter to the Wilshire Ebell Theatre for two nights on May 8 and 9, Willman’s crowd work, storytelling and intricate tricks are inspired by everyday life.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Just this insane profanity-laden tirade that went on and on and on.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Flights canceled, costlier airplane tickets and baggage fees.
    Mae Anderson, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
  • Heavy encrustations of golden mussels have blocked pipes in municipal and industrial water intakes, which has necessitated costly biofouling removal.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • Warnings, laments, and odes to renewal were expressed pictorially as dying days under bleeding heavens, belching volcanoes, proud icebergs, lavish rainbows amid spangling, mist-suffusing sunlight and dawns of peace and hope.
    Sebastian Smee, New Yorker, 4 May 2026
  • Bezos is no stranger to seeing protesters come between himself and a lavish celebration.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extravagant. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

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