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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Recent Examples of extrinsic
There are a few causes: intrinsic aging (the natural aging process) and extrinsic aging (mostly from long-term sun exposure).
—
Daley Quinn, Glamour, 10 Nov. 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
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
The key is to use the motions of the arm, object inertia, gravity, and external contacts: extrinsic dexterity.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2014
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Daley Quinn, Glamour, 10 Nov. 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
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
The key is to use the motions of the arm, object inertia, gravity, and external contacts: extrinsic dexterity.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 June 2014
See All Example Sentences for extrinsic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extrinsic
Adjective
-
To reliably run all three external screens, a 45-W USB-C power adapter is recommended – this can also be from a 45-W+ power bank to make the setup truly mobile.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Feb. 2026
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My commitment has always been to administering justice in a manner that promotes accountability, respects victims, supports the integrity of our legal institutions, and reinforces public confidence that the courts are a stabilizing force — regardless of political climate or external pressure.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Szoboszlai’s opener will sit alongside Daniel Sturridge’s effort from the 2016 Europa League final against Sevilla in Basel in the vault of stunning Liverpool goals that were ultimately deemed irrelevant by the result.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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In this landscape, organizations such as the CDC, which once stood as unimpeachable examples of government competence, have become victims of their own success, appearing to skeptics to be inert or irrelevant.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
5 July 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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Individuals are much more price-sensitive and willing to forgo extraneous expenses when spending their own money.—
Chris Pope,
Washington Post,
10 Feb. 2026
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No middle name, no hyphen, no extraneous vowels, three syllables played on a drum.—
Raven Smith,
Vogue,
20 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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These pressures are not accidental.—
Steve Hershey,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2026
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Why This Moment Matters The timing of this shift isn’t accidental.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extrinsic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extrinsic. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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