in the extreme

phrase

: to the greatest possible extent

Examples of in the extreme in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Stages 12 and 14, in the extreme south near Andalucia, could be brutal and attritional, with the second time trial of the race not occurring until stage 18 in Cadiz. — Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2026 This summer has been a deadly one in Europe, with over 10,000 people perishing in the extreme heat over just a few weeks. — Morgan Simon, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 Scars crisscross his bottom, from blisters that formed in the extreme heat. — Diaa Hadid, NPR, 2 Aug. 2026 Residents throughout the continent are suffering in the extreme heat, further exacerbated by a lack of air conditioning in some European countries. — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for in the extreme

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of in the extreme was circa 1616

Rhymes for in the extreme

See All Rhymes for in the extreme

Browse Nearby Words

in the event of
in the extreme
in the face of
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“In the extreme.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20the%20extreme. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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