extravagant

adjective

ik-ˈstra-vi-gənt How to pronounce extravagant (audio)
Definition of extravagantnext
1
as in wasteful
given to spending money freely or foolishly the billionaire's son is the typically extravagant playboy who hasn't earned any of what he spends

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount the book doesn't quite merit the extravagant praise that it has received

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in expensive
commanding a large price wooed her with an array of extravagant gifts

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Adrien Brody is known for wearing extravagant brooches by jewelry designer Elsa Jin, while brooches were worn by Jeff Goldblum, Joe Alwyn and Robert Downey Jr. —Nadja Sayej, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 Everyone is still chasing the Dodgers, the defending World Series champs with an extravagant payroll and a stunning collection of future Hall of Fame talent. —Patrick Mooney, The Athletic, 11 Mar. 2025 But a show of appreciation doesn’t have to be big, expensive or extravagant to have a meaningful effect, says leadership consultant and resilience expert Paula Davis. —Ashton Jackson, CNBC, 10 Mar. 2025 Even Chicago, a city with famously extravagant St. Patrick's Day festivities, doesn't have the history to match. —Jessica Farthing, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extravagant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extravagant
  1. wasteful
  2. excessive
  3. expensive
  4. extreme
  5. valuable
  6. insane
  7. costly
  8. lavish
Adjective
  • High-profile eliminations of wasteful spending (some real, others not) won’t make a dent in federal spending.
    — Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Trump has said the department is wasteful and a bastion for left-wing indoctrination.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of wasteful
Adjective
  • Hurlburt said excessive rainfall in 2023 resulted in an excessive number of closures along parts of the shoreline.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 17 Mar. 2025
  • While many in the Vatican have held up St. John Paul II’s long and public battle with Parkinson’s disease and other ailments as a humble sign of his willingness to show his frailties, others criticized it as excessive and glorifying sickness.
    — Nicole Winfield, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of excessive
Adjective
  • Renovations to make a home wheelchair-accessible or safe for someone with a visual impairment can be expensive.
    — Andrew Lingelbach, Baltimore Sun, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Castillo would be expensive, in terms of money and the trade package, but his presence on the mound would be well worth it.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
Definition of expensive
Adjective
  • While the Midwest and the South are bracing for possible severe storms Friday and Saturday, on Thursday there was a critical risk of fire in Texas and other parts of the Great Plains — and the extreme danger will continue into the weekend.
    — Phil Helsel, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Just one-eightieth of the resulting savings, or $324 billion, could eradicate global extreme poverty.
    — David Vetter, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of extreme
Adjective
  • The research suggests that situational awareness may emerge naturally as AI systems become more powerful and economically valuable.
    — Craig S. Smith, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Neither of those wideouts are superstars, but either would provide a valuable veteran presence.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of valuable
Adjective
  • Your voice is insane.
    — Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com, al, 4 Apr. 2023
  • But obviously winning the grand jury prize was insane.
    — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2023
Definition of insane
Adjective
  • Ekman-Larsson was relatively quiet but took a costly penalty after a scrum that probably never should’ve happened.
    — Nick Ashbourne, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
  • However, the company will need to adjust its pricing and service offerings along with significant operational changes which can be costly and time consuming.
    — Joe Cornell, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of costly
Adjective
  • The night before his accident, Abbott and his wife had attended a lavish gala hosted by his law firm.
    — Jonathan Blitzer, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2025
  • While Pia is preparing for her younger sister Sonal’s (Anoushka Chadha) lavish Indian wedding celebration, she's confronted with her mother's (Sindhu Vee) solution to her financial woes: a collection of valuable family heirloom jewelry that could solve all her money problems.
    — Pooja Shah, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of lavish

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Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extravagant. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.

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