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GRE vocabulary

extraneous

adjectiveHigh-frequency wordMore E words

irrelevant or unrelated to the matter at hand

Word origin: From Latin extraneus, external, from extra, outside.

In a sentence

Extraneous in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing extraneous in a sentence.

The editor cut several extraneous paragraphs to tighten the article.

The editor cut several extraneous anecdotes that distracted from the chapter's central argument.

Synonyms
Antonyms
relevantpertinentessential
Usage & nuance

Using “extraneous” well

Extraneous means irrelevant to the matter at hand, or sometimes coming from outside. In careful writing it flags material that should be removed as beside the point.

Common questions

Questions about “extraneous

Extraneous (adjective) means irrelevant or unrelated to the matter at hand
Here is extraneous used in an example sentence: "The editor cut several extraneous paragraphs to tighten the article." Another example: "The editor cut several extraneous anecdotes that distracted from the chapter's central argument."
Common synonyms for extraneous include irrelevant, superfluous, immaterial.
Antonyms of extraneous include relevant, pertinent, essential.
Clusters with irrelevant, superfluous, and immaterial in Sentence Equivalence. Its antonyms relevant, pertinent, and essential mark the contrast.
Yes. Extraneous is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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