ADVENTITIOUS Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

adventitious

adjective

ˌad-(ˌ)ven-ˈti-shəs

Definition of adventitious

as in extrinsic

not being a vital part of or belonging to something the point of view that art should be for art's sake and that moral considerations are adventitious to the study of art

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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 adventitious Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 5 July 2025 The patchy and adventitious quality of Jameson’s reconstruction must make clear his difference as a thinker. — Mark Greif, Harper's Magazine, 26 July 2024 The cut appears to have been high enough that the stump should still have enough adventitious buds to regrow. — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2023 This can also occur when trees are planted too deep, as adventitious (growing sideways from the stem) roots grow against the stem and squeeze the sapwood. — Rebecca Jepsen, The Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adventitious

Adjective

Educational psychology provides a useful framework for understanding this phenomenon through the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

— Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 July 2026
Extrinsic rewards, such as grades, do so because extrinsic desires tend to crowd out intrinsic ones.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Definition of extrinsic

Adjective

When Berk asked whether Farell was aware of allegations that Rivas had been violent toward Burke, the judge ruled the question irrelevant, and Farell did not answer.

— Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 27 July 2026
In a wide-ranging interview with The Economist, Musk told editor-in-chief Zanny Minton Beddoes that AI and robotics will produce such an abundance of goods and services by 2036 that money will become irrelevant.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 July 2026

Definition of irrelevant

Adjective

The club hired an external specialist at the end of last season on a trial basis to help analyse account login data and fans’ behaviour online to try to tackle the issues.

— Andy Mitten, New York Times, 22 July 2026
When your body works against an external weight—free weights, resistance bands, or even your own body weight—your muscles experience stress and microscopic damage.

— Jenessa Connor, Health, 21 July 2026

Definition of external

Adjective

Level Two prompts teams to identify missing critical information or extraneous details.

— Esther K. Choy, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Had Ponce been found guilty of one murder at trial, with evidence of the other presented in the punishment phase as an extraneous event, a jury or judge would have considered a prison punishment range of five to 99 years, or life.

— Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 July 2026

Definition of extraneous

Adjective

These brands sought deep operational integration and audience engagement, contrasting with non-sponsors who gained accidental publicity from FIFA's strict clean-stadium rules.

— Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
The accidental discharge by the officer will be reviewed internally, the New London Police Department said.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 26 July 2026

Definition of accidental

Adjective

Papik also said fishing policies are being amended that would allow native species to reclaim some of their number, like growing mollusks that are less susceptible to the alien blue crab.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Etna is set in a small, unnamed country, which makes sense; nationalism and border politics are alien to dogs.

— Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026

Definition of alien

Adjective

Camp David is a presidential retreat in Maryland that is also used to host foreign dignitaries.

— Jeremy Diamond, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
Roughly 90% of foreign-exchange transactions involve the dollar; the alternatives — gold, Treasuries, the euro — trail far behind.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Definition of foreign

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“Adventitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adventitious. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of adventitious

adjective

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