alien 1 of 3

alien

2 of 3

verb

alien

3 of 3

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word alien different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of alien are extraneous, extrinsic, and foreign. While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.

a practice totally alien to her nature

In what contexts can extraneous take the place of alien?

The synonyms extraneous and alien are sometimes interchangeable, but extraneous applies to what is on or comes from the outside and may or may not be capable of becoming an essential part.

arguments extraneous to the issue

When is it sensible to use extrinsic instead of alien?

While in some cases nearly identical to alien, extrinsic applies to what is distinctly outside the thing in question or is not contained in or derived from its essential nature.

sentimental value that is extrinsic to the house's market value

When could foreign be used to replace alien?

The words foreign and alien are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foreign applies to what is so different as to be rejected or repelled or to be incapable of becoming assimilated.

techniques foreign to French cuisine

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of alien
Adjective
She is suspended in a field of turquoise paint, her skin tone a pewter-gray grisaille, which removes her from our realm and gives her an almost alien interiority and agency. Jerry Saltz, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025 Many Americans have suggested that otherworldly occurrences take place at the facility and some believe that the government keeps an alien spacecraft and the bodies of its crew on the grounds. Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
But even that description fails to capture what Yagi is after: those parts of us, precious and possibly hostile, which flower in darkness, disintegrate when described, and can be compared only to alien life-forms. Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2022 Neanderthal to alien, and yet strangely well-suited for the modern era. Nick Remsen, CNN, 30 Sep. 2021
Noun
This automatic extension applies to U.S. citizens and resident aliens who live outside the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Nathalie Goldstein, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025 According to 8 People Who Love It By Ian Kumamoto Somehow until recently, this diva was the literal only canonically trans character in Doctor Who, a series about an immortal two-hearted humanoid alien that has been regenerated into over a dozen different bodies. Samantha Riedel, Them., 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for alien
Recent Examples of Synonyms for alien
Adjective
  • But the methodology behind Trump’s attempt to rebalance trade has nothing to do with the tariff rate that foreign countries impose on the US.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images Trump in a Truth Social post encouraged more foreign spending in the U.S., assuring that investors can bet on his economic agenda long term.
    Kevin Breuninger,Dan Mangan,Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • They’re beautifully designed and thoroughly approved—but quickly irrelevant.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Wherever Detroit falls in the standings should be irrelevant Friday, though.
    Hunter Patterson, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Other nations, angered by the new American tariffs, will impose their own retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods, reducing the sales of America’s most internationally competitive companies.
    Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 4 Apr. 2025
  • As the situation unfolds, Republicans are caught in a delicate balancing act, wary of angering Trump while addressing the growing backlash against his trade policies.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • On March 28, the agency notified its remaining employees that they would be terminated either on July 1, when all remaining USAID functions are set to be merged with State, or before Sept. 2, when the agency’s operations will have been substantially wound down or transferred to State.
    Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Officials eventually rescued all those who had been in the boat, detained them and transferred them to Border Patrol custody, the complaint said.
    Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The thought of performing in a revealing outfit, not just in front of strangers but also her family and friends who had come to see her debut, left her feeling terrified.
    J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2025
  • Even brief conversations with strangers can significantly boost happiness.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The team was able to remove the external support in October and added a dental acrylic covering over the gap in the bone until late March.
    Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 10 Apr. 2025
  • But these laws have not historically extended to child influencers and social media stars — leaving the influencer space largely free of guidelines and any external accountability.
    CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Even if earnings do come in ahead of expectations, souring economic expectations due to tariffs have already punished their stocks and could continue to do so next week, Cramer said.
    Erin Doherty,Annika Kim Constantino,Yun Li, CNBC, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Investor sentiment had already soured going into the announcement.
    John Buckingham, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In turn, Mirren explained why there should not be a female Bond amid the franchise shake-up at Amazon MGM after longtime producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson ceded creative control in a billion-dollar deal with the studio.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 31 Mar. 2025
  • This raises the prospect that the United States could cede the lead in space exploration to China in the coming decades.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Alien.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/alien. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on alien

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!