extreme 1 of 2

1
as in farthest
most distant from a center spacecraft that is specially designed to explore the extreme edge of our solar system

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

extreme

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of extreme are excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, immoderate, and inordinate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," 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 excessive instead of extreme?

Although the words excessive and extreme have much in common, excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

Where would exorbitant be a reasonable alternative to extreme?

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

exorbitant prices

When might extravagant be a better fit than extreme?

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

extravagant claims for the product

In what contexts can immoderate take the place of extreme?

The words immoderate and extreme can be used in similar contexts, but immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

When could inordinate be used to replace extreme?

While the synonyms inordinate and extreme are close in meaning, 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 extreme
Adjective
His films reflect tension between extremes of physicality and of abstraction, between stories of a potentially grotesque carnality and images of rigorous design. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 24 June 2025 For the moment, Miami’s condo market is a picture of extremes. Cd Goette-Luciak, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025
Noun
Celebrities like Lady Gaga and Sabrina Carpenter have taken the trend to extreme lengths (or lack thereof) this year with micro shorts. Nicol Natale, People.com, 28 June 2025 In this kind of extreme heat — and in a world growing hotter every year — communities need reliable access to safe, free drinking water. Rachel Bustamante, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for extreme
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extreme
Adjective
  • That's close to the farthest point in its orbit, which is 252,088 miles away, according to NASA.
    Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2023
  • Shortly before entering that orbit, NASA says Orion will travel 57, 287 miles beyond the moon at its farthest point from the lunar surface.
    Lee Roop | [email protected], al, 23 Nov. 2022
Adjective
  • True love for this country has become rarer today, and in fact, radical hatred has become more common.
    Linda McMahon, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 July 2025
  • Student activists and radical thinkers were desperate to reform and strengthen China.
    Emily Feng, NPR, 5 July 2025
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
Noun
  • According to the warrant affidavit, an autopsy later found Eaton died of blunt impact injury of her head, neck, torso and extremities.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 3 July 2025
  • Other victims included Javier Castillo, 15, of Central Islip, who was befriended by gang members only to be hacked with a machete in the head, neck, torso and extremities in an isolated marsh.
    Danielle Wallace, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Harrington had words with an NBC Analyst, prompting rabid reactions online.
    Kendall Capps, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 June 2025
  • There’ve been some good ones over the past few years, but films like Rush, Ferrari and Ford v Ferrari haven’t drawn the kind of rabid audiences that show up to watch these races live.
    Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Mar. 2025
  • If 51% of the population is being so underserved, the ratio to opportunity is insane.
    Gemma Allen, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Halfway through 2025, reported cases have already surpassed 1,274 − the peak for all of 2019.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 6 July 2025
  • High upon the peak of an old, weathered cabin perched a brown and white billy goat.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 6 July 2025
Noun
  • Position players have a maximum of 20 days on a rehab assignment.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 4 July 2025
  • My goal is to attract at least 50 members within the next 90 days, leading me to achieve and exceed my $1,000 a week target in a maximum of six months.
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Extreme.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://x0upouf933.proxynodejs.usequeue.com/thesaurus/extreme. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on extreme

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!