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
That’s where the balance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation comes in—gamification should enhance the inherent rewards of work rather than relying solely on badges, tokens and points.
—
Par Chadha, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
This certainly hints at a deep and powerful form of motivation known as intrinsic motivation (doing something for a deep personal reason for example), as opposed to extrinsic motivation (in the sense of some short-term financial reward or external validation).
—Adrian Kelly, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2025
The most common causes of extrinsic stains are coffee, tea, red wine, colas, and smoking.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Feb. 2025
Initially, all participants enter for financial gain—a classic example of extrinsic motivation.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Par Chadha, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2025
This certainly hints at a deep and powerful form of motivation known as intrinsic motivation (doing something for a deep personal reason for example), as opposed to extrinsic motivation (in the sense of some short-term financial reward or external validation).
—Adrian Kelly, Big Think, 5 Feb. 2025
The most common causes of extrinsic stains are coffee, tea, red wine, colas, and smoking.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 2 Feb. 2025
Initially, all participants enter for financial gain—a classic example of extrinsic motivation.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extrinsic
Adjective
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Prior to Joyce, Lisa Cummins, the minister of energy and business development in Barbados, spoke movingly about how her small island nation was being buffeted by external forces.—
Christine Ro,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The only reason there’s a handful of options for Day 3 is because many of their guys at the end of the depth chart are external vets and the Cowboys could try to replace them with homegrown talents.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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For the purposes of this discussion, the cause of sea level rise is irrelevant.—
Rob Young,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2025
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Tony Gilroy’s masterful series is so good that the sci-fi Star Wars of it all sometimes seems irrelevant compared to the nuanced takes on resistance and fascism.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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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
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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
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Are they considered a worthy consultant or an extraneous one?—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
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Which passport wallets are best? Passport wallets have long been viewed as somewhat of an extraneous travel accessory for years, but are steadily rising in their popularity among frequent flyers and travelers.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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What followed was part social experiment, part accidental soul-baring, and slightly more fun than doomscrolling solo.—
Jennifer Jolly,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
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Similarly, an accidental executor can be the trustee of a revocable trust after the grantor has passed away.—
Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D.,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extrinsic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extrinsic. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
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