extreme

1 of 2

adjective

ex·​treme ik-ˈstrēm How to pronounce extreme (audio)
1
a
: existing in a very high degree
extreme poverty
b
: going to great or exaggerated lengths : radical
went on an extreme diet
c
: exceeding the ordinary, usual, or expected
extreme weather conditions
2
archaic : last
3
: situated at the farthest possible point from a center
the country's extreme north
4
a
: most advanced or thoroughgoing
the extreme political left
b
5
a
: of, relating to, or being an outdoor activity or a form of a sport (such as skiing) that involves an unusually high degree of physical risk
extreme mountain biking down steep slopes
b
: involved in an extreme sport
an extreme snowboarder
extremeness noun

extreme

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: something situated at or marking one end or the other of a range
extremes of heat and cold
b
: the first term or the last term of a mathematical proportion
c
: the major term or minor term of a syllogism
2
a
: a very pronounced or excessive degree
b
: highest degree : maximum
3
: an extreme measure or expedient
going to extremes
Phrases
in the extreme
: to the greatest possible extent
Choose the Right Synonym for extreme

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 extreme in a Sentence

Adjective The plant is sensitive to extreme heat and cold. They are living in extreme poverty. She went on an extreme diet. Many thought that the punishment was too extreme for the crime. The plan was rejected as too extreme. This is an extreme example of what can happen when a company grows too quickly. He has extreme opinions when it comes to politics. Members of the extreme right opposed the legislation. Noun After spending lavishly for years, the company has now gone to the opposite extreme and has cut expenses drastically. His mood changed from one extreme to the other.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Open to spectators, Rhino Charge takes place over 10 hours on extreme terrain in a remote bush location, and the money raised goes towards mountain ecosystem conservation. Becca Blond, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2024 Since then, a mix of factors, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, extreme weather related to climate change and a massive Avian flu outbreak, have kept costs elevated. Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 16 Mar. 2024 Friedlander said other factors also have contributed to Florida’s insurance crisis, including an extreme number of lawsuits against insurers. Amy Green, WIRED, 16 Mar. 2024 Breakfast at Citronelle—think creamy avocado on toast and nutritious acai bowls—is largely à la carte to avoid the extreme buffet food waste many islands produce. Kate Lloyd, Vogue, 16 Mar. 2024 With more extreme weather predicted in the coming years, the Massachusetts town will likely need those sorts of defenders for the foreseeable future. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 The attack took place amid a backdrop of extreme hunger and poverty in the besieged enclave due to Israel’s severe restrictions on aid entering Gaza, where more than a half a million people are on the brink of famine, according to UN agencies. Kareem Khadder, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024 Leonid Slutsky is an extreme nationalist from the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. Kim Hjelmgaard and Anna Nemtsova, USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2024 The team found that males did not weigh more than females for most of the species examined, and that differences in mass between males and females were not extreme for most species. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Mar. 2024
Noun
But while his desire to evoke the druggy euphoria of early U.K. club music has sometimes jostled against his ear for atmosphere (as on his contributions to the Shock Power of Love split with Blackdown), those two extremes are more fully integrated than ever on these two 13-minute tracks. Daniel Bromfield, SPIN, 13 Mar. 2024 Sydney Sweeney is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, but fans are sure to be shocked by her wild new horror movie that pushes her creativity in front of and behind the camera to new extremes. William Earl, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024 Conversely, that means that less aid may be going to poorer countries than would be warranted if heat and flooding extremes at those locations, for example, were more comprehensively understood. The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 For instance, Nayeon loves to play a game of extremes, where members are forced to choose between two tough choices. Jenna Wang, Peoplemag, 24 Feb. 2024 At the other extreme are countries that would prefer to keep UNESCO’s paper-pushing hands off their intangibles. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2024 Why would anyone go to such extremes to dilute this? Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 But, the dueling roles also pushed Ohtani to unprecedented physical extremes, forcing him to divide his time, effort and mental energy on two very different — but equally demanding — positions during his six-year tenure with the Angels. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 26 Feb. 2024 The Devil’s Bath, an Austrian horror film from Goodnight Mommy directors Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala, which Playtime is selling worldwide, could be too gory for the Berlin jury, but the psychodrama about a woman driven to extremes in the 18th century rural Austria, won over Berlin audiences. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'extreme.' 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

Adjective

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin extremus, superlative of exter, exterus being on the outside — more at exterior

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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

Dictionary Entries Near extreme

Cite this Entry

“Extreme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extreme. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

extreme

1 of 2 adjective
ex·​treme ik-ˈstrēm How to pronounce extreme (audio)
1
: existing to a very great degree
extreme heat
extreme poverty
2
: farthest from a center
3
: most advanced or thorough
the extreme political right
4
: relating to a form of a sport that involves an unusually high degree of risk
extreme skiing
extremely adverb
extremeness noun

extreme

2 of 2 noun
1
: something situated as far away as possible from another
extremes of heat and cold
2
: the first term or the last term of a mathematical proportion
3
: a very pronounced or excessive degree
4
: an extraordinary measure
going to extremes

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