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.
My first alarm clock came from my extravagant godmother—childless and incapable of giving presents she wouldn’t use herself.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
"With the extravagant prices and the costs involved in this World Cup, it's not going to achieve that," the 51-year-old added.
From Barron's • May 13, 2026
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 supermodel took her penchant for extravagant Halloween costumes to the Met Gala, where she dressed as one of the many marble statues gracing the museum's halls.
From BBC • May 4, 2026
Old or young, lovely or plain, rich or very rich, he’ll keep them company and take their extravagant gifts, but he never stays, and once he’s gone he never comes back.
From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins
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.
