1
as in existing
having being at the present time
a celebrated author who is generally regarded as America's greatest novelist extant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in current
existing or in progress right now
when people envisage the future, they often base their predictions on the assumption that extant trends will continue indefinitely
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 extant
Those samples could have told us about possible conditions for ancient, or even extant, life on the once-watery world—potential knowledge that will now be lost.
—
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 May 2025
But the elephant bird made even the ostrich – which holds the title as the world’s largest extant bird – look petite.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Similarly, the detractors against building the Red Line argue that this expenditure on public funds is a boondoggle because the extant light rail line (now called Light RailLink) doesn’t work very well.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2025
The sighting was of the other extant coelacanth species, the West Indian Ocean Latimeria chalumnae.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for extant
Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 6 May 2025
But the elephant bird made even the ostrich – which holds the title as the world’s largest extant bird – look petite.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Similarly, the detractors against building the Red Line argue that this expenditure on public funds is a boondoggle because the extant light rail line (now called Light RailLink) doesn’t work very well.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2025
The sighting was of the other extant coelacanth species, the West Indian Ocean Latimeria chalumnae.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for extant
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extant
Adjective
-
Its current sanctuary, complete with state-of-the-art sound and video systems, can hold half its 8,000 members at a time at its campus in Lochearn.—
Jonathan M. Pitts,
Baltimore Sun,
6 June 2025
-
More: Trump issues new travel ban affecting nearly 20 countries: What travelers need to know Which nations have been targeted in current and previous travel bans?—
George Petras,
USA Today,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Choudhary said that chronic stress can even exacerbate already existent gastrointestinal issues, including irritable bowel syndrome.—
Claretta Bellamy,
NBC News,
4 Oct. 2023
-
As for other perceptions that were proven to be either misguided or no longer existent during this series, how about this one, the notion that Tatum and Jaylen Brown don’t bring out the best in each other.—
Chad Finn,
BostonGlobe.com,
15 May 2023
Adjective
-
All of the hallmarks that made the group such a force in the Seventies and Eighties — the irresistible melodies, the spark-up-and-chill vibes, those voices — are present here, without any trace of aping the past.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
6 June 2025
-
The city’s African roots are ever present here in a way that is unique to the rest of the United States.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 June 2025
Adjective
-
Like other award ceremonies, BET has also endured its share of bumps and bruises in the ongoing tug of war between captivating audiences in a 24/7 media world and lower ratings.—
Gail Mitchell,
Billboard,
9 June 2025
-
If splintering the institution is always an option, the result is ongoing anarchy.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extant.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extant. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share