exorbitant

adjective ex·or·bi·tant \ig-ˈzȯr-bə-tənt\

: going far beyond what is fair, reasonable, or expected : too high, expensive, etc.

Full Definition of EXORBITANT

: not coming within the scope of the law

: exceeding the customary or appropriate limits in intensity, quality, amount, or size

— ex·or·bi·tant·ly adverb

See exorbitant defined for English-language learners

See exorbitant defined for kids

Examples of EXORBITANT

The citizens of Xiaoli Village move lazily, with a languor born of chronic underemployment. They are farmers by tradition, but exorbitant taxes have leached any profitability out of their profession. —Hannah Beech, Time, 27 Oct. 2003
As with the black truffle, foie gras is as exorbitant ($52 a pound) as it is decadent (one gram of foie gras can reportedly be 900 calories). —Heather Morgan, Traveler, April 2000
… I recommend that the Congress adopt … [a] continuation of the law for the renegotiation of war contracts—which will prevent exorbitant profits and assure fair prices to the Government. —Franklin D. Roosevelt, 11 Jan. 1944, in Nothing to Fear by B. D. Zevin, 1946
[+]more [-]hide

Origin of EXORBITANT

Middle English, from Late Latin exorbitant-, exorbitans, present participle of exorbitare to deviate, from Latin ex- + orbita track of a wheel, rut, from orbis disk, hoop

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to EXORBITANT

Synonyms: baroque, devilish, excessive, extravagant, extreme, fancy, immoderate, inordinate, insane, intolerable, lavish, overdue, overextravagant, overmuch, overweening, plethoric, steep, stiff, towering, unconscionable, undue, unmerciful

Antonyms: middling, moderate, modest, reasonable, temperate

Synonym Discussion of EXORBITANT

excessive, immoderate, inordinate, extravagant, exorbitant, extreme mean going beyond a normal limit. excessive implies an amount or degree too great to be reasonable or acceptable <excessive punishment>. immoderate implies lack of desirable or necessary restraint <immoderate spending>. inordinate implies an exceeding of the limits dictated by reason or good judgment <inordinate pride>. extravagant implies an indifference to restraints imposed by truth, prudence, or good taste <extravagant claims for the product>. exorbitant implies a departure from accepted standards regarding amount or degree <exorbitant prices>. extreme may imply an approach to the farthest limit possible or conceivable but commonly means only to a notably high degree <extreme shyness>.

EXORBITANT Defined for Kids