Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of extraneous are alien, extrinsic, and foreign. While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," 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

How do alien and foreign relate to one another, in the sense of extraneous?

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

a practice totally alien to her nature

Where would extrinsic be a reasonable alternative to extraneous?

The words extrinsic and extraneous are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

When can foreign be used instead of extraneous?

While in some cases nearly identical to extraneous, 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

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 extraneous Most of its tweaks, apart from the ones made to Snow White, are superfluous; the film nips and tucks set pieces while padding its nearly two-hour run time with extraneous songs and dialogue. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 24 Mar. 2025 While the series may ultimately feel extraneous to anyone already well-aware of terms like cyberbullying and the manosphere, its technical scope is impressive and purposeful, while its persistent empathy helps the ending feel more like a consoling hug than an outraged admonishment. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2025 Not even Salley’s plastic surgeon, who is removing both of her breast implants as well as her extraneous e, could fix this mess. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025 But a lengthy scene involving Anata’s romantic troubles feels awkwardly shoehorned in, and Liu, despite her impressive skills, feels extraneous to the proceedings. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extraneous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extraneous
Adjective
  • But Trump, from his first weeks in office, has instead threatened to render Congress almost irrelevant.
    David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 31 Mar. 2025
  • The constant pressure to fit into society’s molds has become irrelevant.
    Erin McGregor, People.com, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • While the prompt provides important information for the model to operate upon, accessing external information sources has traditionally been cumbersome.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Whether this occurred through external networking or internal conversations, matching the hiring department’s needs with a new team member can happen quicker than the job posting going live.
    Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Although skills can be learned through both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, intrinsic learning often leads to deeper, more lasting knowledge.
    Jenny Lehmann, Discover Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
  • This refers to a call spread where the in-the-money call has the same extrinsic value as the out-of-the-money call.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 27 Mar. 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
  • The coroner’s office ruled the deaths accidental due to blunt force trauma.
    David Matthews, New York Daily News, 8 Apr. 2025
  • In another show, with a lesser writer, such incongruities could be read as character inconsistencies, accidental oversights, mistakes.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 7 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extraneous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extraneous. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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