extravagant
/iks'trævigənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Spending much more than is necessary or wise; wasteful: Characterized by excessive or careless expenditure of money or resources.
- Exceeding reasonable limits; excessive: Going beyond what is reasonable, justifiable, or conventional, especially in behavior, expression, or design.
- Lavish, elaborate, or fantastic: Rich, ornate, or unrestrained in style, appearance, or imagination.
Usage and Examples
Describing wasteful spending:
- He was criticized for his extravagant lifestyle, which quickly depleted his inheritance.
- The company's extravagant budget for the office party raised eyebrows among the shareholders.
Describing something excessive or beyond limits:
- She made an extravagant claim about the product's abilities that could not be proven.
- His extravagant gestures of affection sometimes made her feel uncomfortable.
Describing something elaborate or luxurious:
- The ballroom was decorated in an extravagant style, with gold leaf and crystal chandeliers.
- The chef prepared an extravagant ten-course meal for the guests.
Advanced Usage and Nuances
"to be extravagant with something": To use something (often money, time, or resources) in a wasteful or overly generous manner.
- She is extravagant with praise, complimenting everyone she meets.
Used to intensify a description: Can emphasize the extreme degree of a quality, often negative.
- The project failed due to extravagant mismanagement. (Here, it intensifies the poor quality of management.)
Variants and Related Words
- Extravagance (noun): The quality of being extravagant; an instance of excessive spending or an elaborate item.
- The wedding was a display of pure extravagance.
- Extravagantly (adverb): In an extravagant manner.
- They lived extravagantly beyond their means.
Synonyms
- Wasteful: Using or expending something carelessly.
- Excessive: More than is necessary, normal, or desirable.
- Lavish: Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.
- Profligate: Recklessly extravagant or wasteful.
- Over-the-top (informal): Excessive or exaggerated.
Antonyms
- Frugal: Sparing or economical with regard to money or food.
- Modest: Unassuming in the estimation of one's abilities or achievements; not excessive.
- Restrained: Characterized by reserve or moderation.
- Thrifty: Using money and other resources carefully and not wastefully.
Idioms and Common Phrases
- Extravagant to a fault: So extravagant that it becomes a character flaw or problem.
- His generosity is extravagant to a fault; he never saves any money for himself.
Adjective
- recklessly wasteful
- prodigal in their expenditures
- unrestrained, especially with regard to feelings
- extravagant praise
- exuberant compliments
- overweening ambition
- overweening greed