Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of inordinate are excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, and immoderate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

When is excessive a more appropriate choice than inordinate?

The words excessive and inordinate can be used in similar contexts, but excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When could exorbitant be used to replace inordinate?

The words exorbitant and inordinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

When can extravagant be used instead of inordinate?

The meanings of extravagant and inordinate largely overlap; however, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

Where would extreme be a reasonable alternative to inordinate?

Although the words extreme and inordinate have much in common, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

When is it sensible to use immoderate instead of inordinate?

The synonyms immoderate and inordinate are sometimes interchangeable, but immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

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 inordinate Women suffered and died from cervical cancer at inordinate rates. Stephania Taladrid, The New Yorker, 25 Nov. 2024 The spray of fastballs early could have been from trying too hard to meet inordinate hype. Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 Thrust into the rotation earlier than anticipated due to the Hornets’ inordinate amount of injuries, Salaün’s first year as a professional took an accelerated pace at the outset, speeding at the rate of a fine car traversing the Autobahn. Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 6 Apr. 2025 Markets dislike uncertainty, and the new global tariff wars are creating an inordinate amount of uncertainty, hence the large decline in asset prices this past week. Sal Gilbertie, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for inordinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inordinate
Adjective
  • Shifting From Reactive To Proactive Security: Organizations often spend excessive time reacting to rather than preventing threats.
    Bojan Šimić, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • Watch for excessive panting, lagging behind, or stumbling.
    Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Performance impacts are a consideration too, including physiological and mental impacts for athletes competing in extreme heat or experiencing long breaks during play.
    Claire Poole, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • The evidence is overwhelming that links extreme heat and air pollution to climate change.
    Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2025
Adjective
  • The Senate's steeper cuts to Medicaid are likely to irritate moderates while the higher price tag could alienate conservatives.
    Caitlin Yilek July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025
  • Challenges need to be overcome, such as insufficient quality of input data, limited historical data, lack of highly skilled data scientists and analysts, regulatory compliance and steep adoption costs.
    Alexandr Khomich, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Adjective
  • Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
  • The emu egg—a two pound, eight-inch ovoid with a sultry teal shell gently speckled in pale green—seemed like just the right absurdist final flourish for an already insane endeavor.
    Helen Rosner, The New Yorker, 23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • Rosie O'Donnell is using her gift of gab to share her thoughts on billionaire Jeff Bezos' extravagant wedding to Lauren Sánchez over the weekend.
    Mekishana Pierre, EW.com, 30 June 2025
  • The Amazon founder, 61, and the Emmy-winning journalist, 55, recently concluded an extravagant celebration of their love, surrounded by entertainment's biggest stars, including the Kardashian-Jenner family, Oprah Winfrey and Leonardo DiCaprio.
    Kayla Grant, People.com, 30 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Inordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inordinate. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on inordinate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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