Definition of foreignnext
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as in multinational
relating to or involving two or more nations foreign trade has always been vital to the region's economic health

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of foreign are alien, extraneous, and extrinsic. While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," foreign applies to what is so different as to be rejected or repelled or to be incapable of becoming assimilated.

techniques foreign to French cuisine

How do alien and foreign relate to one another?

Alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.

a practice totally alien to her nature

When is extraneous a more appropriate choice than foreign?

The words extraneous and foreign are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, extraneous applies to what is on or comes from the outside and may or may not be capable of becoming an essential part.

arguments extraneous to the issue

When might extrinsic be a better fit than foreign?

In some situations, the words extrinsic and foreign are roughly equivalent. However, extrinsic applies to what is distinctly outside the thing in question or is not contained in or derived from its essential nature.

sentimental value that is extrinsic to the house's market value

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 foreign Rattled by Russia’s war in Ukraine and strained trans-Atlantic ties, European governments are reducing dependence on foreign technology. ABC News, 26 June 2026 People who live within different cultures usually adopt the more foreign one for sexuality, especially if their mother culture has rejected that part of them. Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 26 June 2026 In 1764, the British Parliament began taxing foreign molasses and prohibiting the import of foreign rum. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 26 June 2026 According to humanitarian officials, 30 urban search-and-rescue teams from foreign countries are now involved in operations, totaling approximately 1,600 rescue personnel and 100 search dogs. Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for foreign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreign
Adjective
  • Showdowns over international inspectors caused years of disputes between the US and Saddam Hussein’s Iraq and more recently Iran.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 26 June 2026
  • Venezuelan President Delcy Rodríguez declared a state of emergency last night, announcing the closure of Caracas’ international airport and disruptions to public services in affected areas.
    Will Clark, NBC news, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • Denver’s brass was asked about those comments on Wednesday, and Wallace responded by sharing some thoughts on the team’s internal and external goals.
    Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 26 June 2026
  • Internal balconies were illuminated by faint blue lights in constellation displays, half-hidden among the foliage to create an illusion of the external edifice of some tropical villa.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Adjective
  • By comparison, digital computers’ silicon substrates seem alien and unrelatable.
    Rob Toews, Forbes.com, 22 June 2026
  • But the mission’s goals outlined by the space agency—tasks such as scouting unexplored terrain, detecting stores of subsurface ice and monitoring atmospheric dust—are a far cry from the preexisting priority of Mars Sample Return and the associated search for alien life.
    Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 22 June 2026
Adjective
  • To me that’s irrelevant in terms of this storytelling.
    K.J. Yossman, Variety, 21 June 2026
  • Whether the governmental entity later does anything with the complaint (here, the Board did not) is irrelevant.
    Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026
Adjective
  • Groceries average about $300 per month, and while imported foods come at a premium, the ability to pick up Mediterranean staples adds an unexpected layer of excitement to island life.
    Dana Sauchelli, Travel + Leisure, 22 Jan. 2026
  • This marks a dramatic turnaround from earlier years when imported titles commanded roughly double the audience of domestic productions.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Always turn off the electricity and water supply line and remove nearby light fixtures when dealing with bursting ceiling pipes to avoid accidental electrocution.
    Helen Andriatsitohaina, The Spruce, 24 June 2026
  • In fact, the two met via an accidental Instagram follow.
    Kaitlyn Harvey, AJC.com, 24 June 2026
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
  • She was medically excused from the 2020 WNBA season held amid the COVID-19 pandemic due to extrinsic asthma, then returned to the league with the Washington Mystics in 2021.
    Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 7 May 2026
  • Anyone that wanted to reserve time in the July 19 final was beholden to a full-tourney pledge of as much as $30 million, although your mileage will vary based on any number of extrinsic variables.
    Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Foreign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreign. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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