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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 Hidden Christians were forced to hide all visible signs of their religion after the 1614 ban on Christianity and the expulsion of foreign missionaries. Foster Klug, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025 Huang received significant monetary gifts from her foreign, non-resident parents in 2015 and 2016. Matthew L. Roberts, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025 Attacking journalists and dissidents can prompt foreign governments to impose economic sanctions and discourage international companies from investing. Daniel Treisman, The Conversation, 3 June 2025 Visibly, at least, the British government has been unwilling to exert meaningful pressure on the Egyptian authorities, despite the U.K. being Egypt’s third-largest foreign investor and a major supplier of military training and equipment. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for foreign
Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreign
Adjective
  • In an executive order dated Feb. 4, Trump ordered a review within 180 days of U.S. participation in and funding for all international organizations, including the United Nations.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 June 2025
  • Gabor Rona, a professor at Cardozo School of Law who specializes in international humanitarian law, agreed with the criticism of GHF.
    Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 1 June 2025
Adjective
  • CIVs require unrelated investors and external managers—criteria typical hedge funds meet, but not personal or family trading entities.
    Robert Green, Forbes.com, 31 May 2025
  • With no predators, external threats or competitors, demodex mites have no selective pressures, Perotti explained.
    Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • Through several attempts, the player must investigate alien ruins, study a bit of history, and discover the cause of the time loop before trying to fix things.
    Fran Ruiz, Space.com, 7 June 2025
  • Our heavily armored alien menace starts taking out drug cartel goons and making a mess, and a couple of cops (Danny Glover and Bill Paxton) plus an unhinged DEA agent (Gary Busey) are on the case to investigate.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • However, this elevated P/S ratio is mostly irrelevant since MSTR's valuation is fundamentally driven by its Bitcoin holdings rather than its traditional software revenue.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 30 May 2025
  • If investors are now satisfied, the underlying legal structure is irrelevant.
    Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 30 May 2025
Adjective
  • The trauma Miami Dolphins fans experience isn’t accidental.
    Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 6 June 2025
  • The difference in these teams after this opening act — 80 minutes of often great, mostly white-knuckled hockey — was an accidental flip of the puck out of play for a two-minute penalty near the end of overtime.
    Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 5 June 2025
Adjective
  • Lauren Heller Since Sagittarians are willing to try anything once, the Fire sign resembles Lauren's adventitious persona.
    Lisa Stardust, People.com, 31 Mar. 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
  • It has been observed that extrinsic rewards can override intrinsic motivations over time.
    John Werner, Forbes.com, 13 May 2025
  • Our motivations—both intrinsic and extrinsic—propel us to acquire new skills, build meaningful relationships and progressively assert our autonomy by taking control of our actions.
    Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • And, to be clear, there are some people who use protests like the ones against Trump’s immigration raids as a cover and excuse to pursue an extraneous agenda of violence and anarchy.
    Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • Savvy business owners are generally cognizant of macroeconomic, geopolitical, and other extraneous elements that impact their performance.
    Jeffrey Johnston, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Foreign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreign. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.

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