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.
Unfortunately, their neighbors did not take the advice of the aforementioned adviser and continued to splurge on extravagant vacations and drive around in the latest-model car.
From MarketWatch • May 11, 2026
The brightest stars in Hollywood, music, sports and style will hit the red carpet Monday for the Met Gala, the extravagant Manhattan charity ball that this year spotlights the intersection between fashion and art.
From Barron's • May 4, 2026
When children's author Sally Gardiner's career first took off, friends assumed her extravagant spending was a byproduct of her newfound success.
From BBC • May 1, 2026
Showhouses are always extravagant, and this year’s event takes place inside the 8,000-square-foot former home of Clara Baldwin Stocker, daughter of land investor and racehorse breeder Elias J. “Lucky” Baldwin.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026
“The First National Bank, like the vessel, was a magnificent, extravagant, enviable Camelot,” he wrote in an opinion in a case involving the bank.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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.
