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 As time went by, the designs became more extravagant, more detailed. Jack Lang, New York Times, 5 July 2026 The Grammy-winning musician and Super Bowl champion held their extravagant yet private ceremony on July 3 at New York City's Madison Square Garden. Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 4 July 2026 David Beckham and Victoria Beckham David Beckham and Victoria Beckham's July 4, 1999, ceremony was one of the most extravagant celebrity weddings of the late 1990s. Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 4 July 2026 For their extravagant Friday wedding at Madison Square Garden, the couple called upon the talents of Stevie Nicks. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 4 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for extravagant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extravagant
Adjective
  • The flights were one of six areas the audit identified as wasteful use of taxpayer dollars.
    Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
  • The administration defends its actions, including massive layoffs at government health agencies, as necessary to eliminate wasteful spending.
    Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Last month, six women interviewed by the Times described concerning behavior by Platner, including excessive drinking, infidelity, and, in one account, physical intimidation.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Black residents of the city have expressed fear of harassment and concerns about trading high crime for excessive policing.
    Suzanne Gamboa, NBC news, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • Since World Cup tickets began selling on FIFA Marketplace last September, fans have expressed disappointment in the expensive price tag.
    Lily Wright, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • Traditional industrial robotics require precise, expensive programming for highly specific environments.
    Anjana Susarla, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
Adjective
  • The National Weather Service said cool air from the north will push the heat dome, responsible for a heat wave that started midweek, south and west in the coming days, relieving some of the most extreme temperatures in the Northeast.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • The laminate reinforces the glass to create a shatter-resistant barrier, preventing shards of glass from flying out during extreme weather.
    Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • SpaceX now ranks among the world's most valuable public companies.
    Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • Royal Navy officials say that flexibility could prove valuable during surveillance missions, force protection operations and precision strike support, where response time often determines mission success.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • England’s 2-1 victory against Mexico — and that insane Azteca Stadium crowd — also was richly deserved.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 7 July 2026
  • Allowing Trump to declare insane levels of tariffs would have been really bad for the economy and bad for Republicans.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 6 July 2026
Adjective
  • Being right eventually is not always enough because time is costly.
    Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The attacks have inflicted lasting damage that will be costly to fix.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Adjective
  • All the gold is gone, and there’s barely enough to pay her soldiers, let alone throw a lavish coronation.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • In 2018, the pair were married at a lavish ceremony in Windsor.
    Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 6 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extravagant. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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