extravagant
Americanadjective
-
spending much more than is necessary or wise; wasteful.
an extravagant shopper.
- Synonyms:
- prodigal, spendthrift, imprudent
-
excessively high.
extravagant expenses; extravagant prices.
- Synonyms:
- inordinate, excessive, immoderate
- Antonyms:
- moderate
-
exceeding the bounds of reason, as actions, demands, opinions, or passions.
- Synonyms:
- preposterous, absurd, wild, fantastic, unrestrained, unreasonable
- Antonyms:
- reasonable
-
going beyond what is deserved or justifiable.
extravagant praise.
-
Obsolete. wandering beyond bounds.
adjective
-
spending money excessively or immoderately
-
going beyond usual bounds; unrestrained
extravagant praise
-
ostentatious; showy
-
exorbitant in price; overpriced
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of extravagant
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Medieval Latin extrāvagant-, stem of extrāvagāns “wandering beyond,” present participle of extrāvagārī “to wander beyond,” from extrā- extra- + vagārī “to wander”
Explanation
Extravagant is an adjective that means expensive, excessive, and over the top. A modest chandelier in your dining room is normal. But crystal-studded walls and gold-plated goblets? That's a bit extravagant. If you’re prone to lavish behavior or spending, you’re extravagant. It’s an adjective associated with extremes, sometimes even to the point of absurdity. Fees at a bank can be extravagant, and so can a person who insists on drinking only bottled French mineral water out of a golden chalice. Remember that the only ‘e’ is at the beginning — the remaining three vowels are all ‘a.’
Vocabulary lists containing extravagant
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Filmmaker Tyler Perry gave himself a particularly extravagant birthday present in 2009 when he purchased White Bay Cay in the Bahamas, along with a neighboring island.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 1, 2026
Premium toppings, extravagant presentations and supersize varieties are pushing hot dogs into the realm of haute cuisine.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
One way to think about Mahler’s extravagant 90-minute exercise in his search for life’s meaning is as an exercise in attaining optimism in the face of tragedy.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 5, 2026
For families that can't afford extravagant presents a collection can make things easier, says psychologist Cathrine Jansson-Boyd at Anglia Ruskin University.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
She spent the main part of her time and energy in these extravagant pursuits.
From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
