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Synonyms

far-reaching

American  
[fahr-ree-ching] / ˈfɑrˈri tʃɪŋ /

adjective

  1. extending far in influence, effect, etc..

    the far-reaching effect of his speech.
far-reaching British  

adjective

  1. extensive in influence, effect, or range

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • far-reachingly adverb
  • far-reachingness noun

Etymology

Origin of far-reaching

First recorded in 1815–25

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.

Last month, the company enacted a partial hiring freeze which now appears to be more far-reaching.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

Farmers also need more fertilizer as they grow their crops, so that’s going to be an ongoing issue — with far-reaching effects for consumers.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

It’s another sign of the far-reaching impact of the Iran war.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

The word cure, Richardson says, is far-reaching, and while very laudable as a goal, doesn’t capture the current reality.

From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026

Contrary to later belief, he was acutely aware of the far-reaching implication of his study: his question was crucial to “the history of the evolution of organic forms,” he wrote.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee

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.