as in external
not being a vital part of or belonging to something
the fact that the ring belonged to your grandmother is extrinsic to its value to a jeweler
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example 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 extrinsic
The appeal supports the notion that an extrinsic test wouldn’t be the only way to assess the similarity between the songs.
—
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2025
Our motivations—both intrinsic and extrinsic—propel us to acquire new skills, build meaningful relationships and progressively assert our autonomy by taking control of our actions.
—Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
This refers to a call spread where the in-the-money call has the same extrinsic value as the out-of-the-money call.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
And that is not something extrinsic, imposed by regulation or taxation, but inherent to the way the company conceives of itself, its ownership structure, its governance, its performance metrics, its finances — everything.
—Iese Business School, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 1 May 2025
Our motivations—both intrinsic and extrinsic—propel us to acquire new skills, build meaningful relationships and progressively assert our autonomy by taking control of our actions.
—Davide Sartini, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
This refers to a call spread where the in-the-money call has the same extrinsic value as the out-of-the-money call.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 27 Mar. 2025
And that is not something extrinsic, imposed by regulation or taxation, but inherent to the way the company conceives of itself, its ownership structure, its governance, its performance metrics, its finances — everything.
—Iese Business School, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extrinsic
Adjective
-
Another psychological factor playing into mental health challenges after winning is the external pressure and expectation to continue winning.—
Brook Choulet,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
Investors have speculated about who will lead the company after Cornell — and what that internal or external pick may mean for the company's future.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Adjective
-
The rise of e-commerce, particularly Amazon, led to widespread belief that traditional big-box retailers would become irrelevant dinosaurs.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
-
The judge ruled that evolution’s validity was irrelevant.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
5 July 2025
-
Lauren Heller Since Sagittarians are willing to try anything once, the Fire sign resembles Lauren's adventitious persona.—
Lisa Stardust,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Walking over said bridge is our lead, Jess (Meg Stalter), whose stylish star turn (zebra-stripe winter coat, star-laden vintage bookbag) is marred by her extraneous voiceover.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
10 July 2025
-
The streaming economy, however, has stretched the narrative timeline, elongated the arc, padding out a predetermined number of episodes with extraneous digressions, giving minor characters things to do that don’t necessarily contribute to the story, while not developing into much on their own.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 July 2025
Adjective
-
The lawsuit also indicates the medical examiner initially ruled the deaths as accidental, but the manner of death was changed in January 2013 to homicide based on a jail informant's uncorroborated statement to police.—
Christina Hall,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
Because many multivitamins contain these nutrients, check labels to avoid accidental overconsumption.—
Patricia Weiser,
Verywell Health,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extrinsic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extrinsic. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share