Definition of extravagantnext
1
2
3

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 The company has deals with many studios as well, as filmmakers try to generate more extravagant shots at lower costs. Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 4 Aug. 2026 The era is remembered as a golden age of prosperity, paired with a thriving art and culture scene—Toulouse-Lautrec posters, the Eiffel Tower (built in 1889), extravagant fashion, the Moulin Rouge, and the flourishing Impressionist art world. R. Daniel Foster, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Like Darvish, Machado and Scherzer, Skubal represents an extravagant rental. Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 The average song would be a couple of minutes, and four would seem like an extravagant jam. Brian Howe, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for extravagant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extravagant
Adjective
  • One of Gary Graves’ biggest strengths as a dramatist is that nary a word feels wasteful when written by him.
    Charles Lewis III, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In a statement, Huffines pledged to cut wasteful spending, protect state tax dollars and deliver property tax relief to Texans.
    Mateo Rosiles, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • San Francisco police officers would then proceed to smash the driver's window, drag the driver out and pepper-spray him — actions that a San Francisco Department of Police Accountability (DPA) report states were excessive.
    Jose Fabian, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Even as the busy restaurant bar reaches blatantly excessive noise levels even before Ninh’s fully done with his equipment, neighboring businesses are already having their patience tested.
    Josh Slater-Williams, IndieWire, 10 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Above and below him on our list sit the two most expensive shot-stoppers of all time, whose big-money moves were followed by contrasting fortunes.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
  • As luxury becomes both more ubiquitous and more expensive, being desirable without being everywhere could prove a valuable position to hold.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • To an outsider, and in isolation, some of these habits may not seem so extreme—Reddit peptides excepted.
    Tori Latham, Robb Report, 8 Aug. 2026
  • North of the border, in British Columbia, hundreds more homes were lost this week, and 15,000 people are currently under evacuation, with extreme fire weather conditions predicted to worsen in the coming days.
    John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • As luxury becomes both more ubiquitous and more expensive, being desirable without being everywhere could prove a valuable position to hold.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2026
  • To further complicate things, baseball is heading toward a labor fight in which owners are aiming to swap short-term financial pain for cost caps that would make every team more valuable.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • And their friendship, a folie à deux spiral of insane ideas powered by ungodly quantities of pot, becomes akin to a superpower.
    Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026
  • These mega facilities are popping up everywhere which means lots of people are spending insane money instead of pulling out the hose and bucket.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • Fairview’s board thought hard before committing to such a costly venture, but had a dream, said Edie Kalin, president of the Odd Fellows Home of CT.
    Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Prematurely extending the life of costly fossil fuel power generation in response to rising costs in a market undergoing reforms may straddle Illinois customers with more costs than otherwise necessary.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026
Adjective
  • For centuries, India’s rulers treasured these precious stones, decorating their palaces, thrones, and crowns with them, and wearing them in lavish displays of wealth and opulence.
    Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Besides golf and the lavish new spa, the signature resort attraction is its legendary equestrian center, operated for over 30 years.
    Larry Olmsted, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extravagant. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on extravagant

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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