ADVENTITIOUS Synonyms: 29 Similar and Opposite Words

adventitious

adjective

ˌad-(ˌ)ven-ˈti-shəs

Definition of adventitious

as in extrinsic

not being a vital part of or belonging to something the point of view that art should be for art's sake and that moral considerations are adventitious to the study of art

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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 adventitious Although individual plants have a lifespan of 30-90 years, adventitious shoots grow up from roots. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 5 July 2025 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 The cut appears to have been high enough that the stump should still have enough adventitious buds to regrow. — Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2023 This can also occur when trees are planted too deep, as adventitious (growing sideways from the stem) roots grow against the stem and squeeze the sapwood. — Rebecca Jepsen, The Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for adventitious

Adjective

Educational psychology provides a useful framework for understanding this phenomenon through the distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

— Jason Benedict, Fortune, 7 July 2026
Extrinsic rewards, such as grades, do so because extrinsic desires tend to crowd out intrinsic ones.

— David Brooks, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

Definition of extrinsic

Adjective

Catherine and Alice are such complicated figures that the word likable seems irrelevant to them.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026
Markets may decide that the long lead time required to rebuild Venezuelan production makes the agreement largely irrelevant to near-term supply.

— Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of irrelevant

Adjective

In June, India's central bank started offering special incentives on foreign currency bank deposits of non-resident Indians, on overseas foreign currency borrowings, and on external commercial borrowings.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
In a civilizationist understanding, a regional hegemon should assert its dominance over its backyard to provide order and exclude external powers.

— Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of external

Adjective

Howard said there was a large volume of character, reputation, and extraneous information related to the Metcalfs.

— CBS Texas Staff, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
Judges should consider voluntary surrender for low-risk individuals who have demonstrated compliance, ensuring punishment aligns with the court's order without adding extraneous suffering.

— Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of extraneous

Adjective

This included expert witnesses who said the child’s death was an accidental drowning brought on by a seizure and a jailhouse informant who recanted his trial testimony that Duncan had confessed to the crime.

— Richard A. Webster, ProPublica, 31 Aug. 2026
In all three cases, authorities have appeared to suggest their deaths were accidental.

— Ryan Young, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of accidental

Adjective

Exploring those possible futures requires tracking an entirely different mathematical object — an arrow known as a vector, one oriented in an expansive, alien domain.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
The privileges of Jover’s life appear entirely superficial, even a bit alien, when contrasted with her granddaughter’s narrative thread.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of alien

Adjective

More than 400 foreign nationals are among the 579 tourists missing in the rugged mountainous region, which is popular with pilgrims and trekkers.

— Jennifer Jett, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
The brothers Tate were arrested by federal marshals in Miami last month, after years of being investigated by several foreign authorities.

— Frank Landymore, Futurism, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of foreign

Browse Nearby Words

advent

adventitious

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“Adventitious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/adventitious. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of adventitious

adjective

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