extravagant
Lacking restraint in spending money or using resources; costing too much.
Often implies excessive or wasteful spending, or going beyond what is reasonable or necessary. It can carry a negative connotation.
Word relationships
- wasteful: More explicitly negative, implying resources are used inefficiently or unnecessarily.
- profligate: Suggests reckless extravagance and moral dissipation.
- lavish: Can be similar, but 'lavish' can also imply generous abundance without the negative connotation of excess or waste.
- excessive: More general, simply meaning 'more than is necessary, normal, or desirable.'
- frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.
- thrifty: Using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
- economical: Careful in the use of money, resources, or time.
Commonly confused with
- luxurious: 'Luxurious' describes something providing great comfort and elegance, often expensive. 'Extravagant' emphasizes the excessive cost or display, potentially beyond what is reasonable.
Word family
- extravagance (noun): Lack of restraint in spending money or using resources; something costing too much.
- extravagantly (adverb): In an extravagant manner.
Collocations
- extravagant spending
- extravagant lifestyle
- extravagant claims
- extravagant gesture
- extravagant prices
Example sentences
- "His extravagant lifestyle led him into considerable debt." Describing spending habits
- "She found the diamond necklace to be an extravagant, though beautiful, gift." Describing a gift
- "The politician made extravagant promises that he knew he couldn't keep." Figurative use
Memory hook
An 'EXTRAVAGANT' person spends 'EXTRA' money and 'VAGUELY' knows where it goes. EXTRA VAGUE
When not to use
Use 'extravagant' when you want to suggest that something is excessive or perhaps wasteful in its cost or display. If you simply mean 'generous' or 'luxurious' without the negative implication of excess, other words might be better.
Fun facts
- The word 'vagabond' (a person who wanders from place to place) shares the same 'vagari' root as 'extravagant'.
Explore more words
extravagance, prodigal, profligate, splurge, overspend, parsimonious
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