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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extrinsic
Early longevity studies analyzed groups of people who were born in a time of widespread extrinsic mortality.
—
Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
Common in the Ninth Circuit, the extrinsic test looks at comparison, context and, in a case like this, specific plot elements.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2026
Nonetheless, too many workplaces are organized around extrinsic rewards such as money, titles, team size, and proximity to power, which can spark effort in the short run but rarely sustain it.
—Jon Rosemberg, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
Gray emphasized that true free play is not oriented around extrinsic goals, such as earning a high grade from a teacher or impressing a soccer coach.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
Common in the Ninth Circuit, the extrinsic test looks at comparison, context and, in a case like this, specific plot elements.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2026
Nonetheless, too many workplaces are organized around extrinsic rewards such as money, titles, team size, and proximity to power, which can spark effort in the short run but rarely sustain it.
—Jon Rosemberg, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025
Gray emphasized that true free play is not oriented around extrinsic goals, such as earning a high grade from a teacher or impressing a soccer coach.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extrinsic
Adjective
-
Michael In signing Lorenzen to a one-year, $8 million contract, the most for an external free agent since 2015, the Rockies seemingly overlooked — or had to — his issues in Denver.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
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When similar events occur during bull markets, external events are often a trigger rather than a cause.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Boston Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
So, all of the other amazing things that'll happen on the way are irrelevant, if that doesn't go well.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
29 Mar. 2026
-
His running mate is irrelevant to matching funds.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
Adjective
-
Over the past week, Dru Smith has been essential in a mix of three point guards and extraneous when only two at point were featured.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Mar. 2026
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Each has been given extraneous dramatic business, perhaps to balance the scales with Oliver and Ciara, and to underscore that this is a show about two sets of couples, their trust issues and their need for one another.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The latest data leak is potentially more damaging to Anthropic than the earlier accidental exposure of the company’s draft blog post about its forthcoming model.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
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Each accidental catch potentially removes an animal that was alive before the Industrial Revolution.—
Samantha Agate,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extrinsic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extrinsic. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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