extravagant

adjective

ex·​trav·​a·​gant ik-ˈstra-vi-gənt How to pronounce extravagant (audio)
1
a
: exceeding the limits of reason or necessity
extravagant claims
b
: lacking in moderation, balance, and restraint
extravagant praise
c
: extremely or excessively elaborate
an extravagant display
2
: extremely or unreasonably high in price
an extravagant purchase
3
a
: spending much more than necessary
has always been extravagant with her money
4
a
archaic : wandering
b
obsolete : strange, curious
extravagantly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for extravagant

excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit.

excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

Examples of extravagant in a Sentence

The company has been making extravagant claims about the drug's effectiveness. The film is notable for its extravagant settings and special effects. We're going on a less extravagant vacation this year. Her extravagant spending has to stop.
Recent Examples on the Web The bottle itself has a luxurious purple hue, and the brand’s signature apothecary bottle is adorned with an eclectic mix of intriguing icons, including a stunning chandelier — a nod to the extravagant gatherings which inspired the liquid’s creation. Amber Love Bond, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 As the billionaire class has grown, modern philanthropy has become more extravagant in tandem with the egos and expectations driving it, a cry for the kind of political and social influence to which the Gottesmans seemed so pleasingly indifferent. Ginia Bellafante, New York Times, 29 Feb. 2024 Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, Hillary Clinton, Bill Gates and members of Bhutan's royal family are said to be flying in for the extravagant festivities, which will take place in Jamnagar, a city in western India. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 Mottahedeh Tobacco Leaf View On Neiman Marcus A longtime favorite amongst more extraverted hosts who aren't afraid of color, this extravagant china pattern is perhaps the happiest of the bunch, and especially charming for spring and summer. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2024 But Saudi Arabia’s extravagant spending in various sports, from backing the breakaway tour LIV Golf to attracting soccer superstars to the Saudi Pro League, has attracted critics who label it as sportswashing to distract from the country’s human rights record. Issy Ronald, CNN, 25 Feb. 2024 During these weeks, visitors can attend events like the Blossom Kite Festival and festival parade, while the Hotel AKA Alexandria is hosting a particularly lavish celebration in the form of Blossom Bliss, an extravagant dining event that takes place along the Potomac on a 22-meter yacht. Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024 Servicing the extravagant Valkyrie could cost owners close to $450,000 over three years, further testing wealthy car enthusiasts who’ve had to wait years for their vehicle that’s been delayed by a range of issues. Siddharth Philip, Fortune Europe, 23 Feb. 2024 After the past two editions of the Games took place under the specter of COVID-19, with no or few fans permitted to attend, the Paris Olympics are expected to feature full stadiums and an extravagant opening ceremony along the Seine River. Tom Schad, USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extravagant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin extravagant-, extravagans, from Latin extra- + vagant-, vagans, present participle of vagari to wander about, from vagus wandering

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4b

Time Traveler
The first known use of extravagant was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near extravagant

Cite this Entry

“Extravagant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extravagant. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

extravagant

adjective
ex·​trav·​a·​gant ik-ˈstrav-i-gənt How to pronounce extravagant (audio)
1
: going beyond what is reasonable or suitable
extravagant praise
2
: wasteful especially of money
extravagant spending
extravagantly adverb
Etymology

Middle English extravagaunt "wandering away, going beyond the usual limits," from early French extravagant (same meaning), from Latin extravagant-, extravagans (same meaning), from earlier extra- "outside, beyond" and vagari "to wander away" — related to vagabond

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