Synonym Chooser

How is the word inordinate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of inordinate are excessive, exorbitant, extravagant, extreme, and immoderate. While all these words mean "going beyond a normal limit," inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment.

inordinate pride

When is excessive a more appropriate choice than inordinate?

The words excessive and inordinate can be used in similar contexts, but excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable.

excessive punishment

When could exorbitant be used to replace inordinate?

The words exorbitant and inordinate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree.

exorbitant prices

When can extravagant be used instead of inordinate?

The meanings of extravagant and inordinate largely overlap; however, extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste.

extravagant claims for the product

Where would extreme be a reasonable alternative to inordinate?

Although the words extreme and inordinate have much in common, extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree.

extreme shyness

When is it sensible to use immoderate instead of inordinate?

The synonyms immoderate and inordinate are sometimes interchangeable, but immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint.

immoderate spending

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of inordinate Though simple for a human to grasp, this concept is nontrivial for a computer to learn and thus would require inordinate amounts of training data and time. Somdeb Majumdar, IEEE Spectrum, 21 Nov. 2024 Link said duplication of ballots is an area that generates an inordinate amount of suspicion from election deniers. Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 16 Sep. 2024 Advertisement One great advantage to this inordinate model is rejection of FOMO mania. Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 19 Nov. 2024 The Ravens weren’t winning because coach John Harbaugh was playing his starters an inordinate amount. Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for inordinate 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for inordinate
Adjective
  • But aggressive fire suppression and inattention to urban overgrowth have left excessive, easy-to-ignite vegetation in many areas.
    Justin Angle, The Conversation, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Forgiveness for students who saw excessive loan interest after 10 or 20 years would likely no longer be an option.
    Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • One threat was enough to keep guests from storming off the show when things got too heated on stage Comments The Jerry Springer Show took liberties with its backstage treatment of guests that were nearly as extreme as what sometimes happened on air.
    Angela Andaloro, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
  • The appearance of weather conditions suggestive of La Niña, a climate phenomenon linked to drier conditions and drought in southern parts of the U.S., likely played a large part in priming southern California for extreme fire conditions.
    Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Califf defended the agency's delay in comments to media Wednesday, saying that the FDA needed to lay the groundwork for steep legal fights over the rule.
    Alexander Tin, CBS News, 15 Jan. 2025
  • So while there are several loopholes for users to remain on TikTok, strong disincentives will likely lead to a steep decline in terms of platform experience.
    Andrew R. Chow, TIME, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Your voice is insane.
    Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com, al, 4 Apr. 2023
  • But obviously winning the grand jury prize was insane.
    Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2023
Adjective
  • As for the gifts, though in this case extravagant, aren’t those part of a writer’s life as well?
    Han Ong, The New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2025
  • The gang leader wasn't greedy with his newfound riches, though, instead showering family and close friends with extravagant gifts.
    Matt Cabral, EW.com, 12 Jan. 2025

Podcast

Thesaurus Entries Near inordinate

Cite this Entry

“Inordinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/inordinate. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on inordinate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!