exorbitant
exorbitant
Pronunciation
/ɪɡˈzɔːr.bɪ.tənt/
ex: /ɪɡ/
/ɪ/ as in "i" in "bit"
/ɡ/ as in "g" in "go"
or: /ˈzɔːr/
/ˈ/ indicates the primary stress on this syllable
/z/ as in "z" in "zoo"
/ɔːr/ as in "or" in "corn" (This could also be represented as /ɔːr/ in some dialects, depending on whether the 'r' is pronounced.)
bi: /bɪ/
/b/ as in "b" in "boy"
/ɪ/ as in "i" in "bit"
tant: /tənt/
/t/ as in "t" in "top"
/ə/ as in "a" in "about" (This is a schwa sound)
/n/ as in "n" in "no"
/t/ as in "t" in "top"
Word Form Variations
exorbitant (adjective): This is the base form. It describes something that is unreasonably high or excessive.
exorbitantly (adverb): This form modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, indicating that something is done in an exorbitant manner. For example, "The prices were exorbitantly high."
exorbitance (noun): This noun form refers to the state or quality of being exorbitant. For example, "The exorbitance of the fees was shocking."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective:
exorbitant: Unreasonably high; exceeding the bounds of what is fair or reasonable, especially in price or amount.
Synonyms: excessive, extravagant, outrageous, inflated, unreasonable, immoderate, unconscionable
Antonyms: reasonable, fair, moderate, justifiable, affordable, sensible
Adverb:
exorbitantly: In an excessively high or unreasonable manner.
Synonyms: excessively, extravagantly, outrageously, unreasonably, immoderately, inordinately
Antonyms: reasonably, fairly, moderately, sensibly, affordably
Noun:
exorbitance: The state or quality of being exorbitant; extreme excessiveness.
Synonyms: excess, extravagance, outrageousness, unreasonableness, immoderation, inordinateness, preposterousness
Antonyms: reasonableness, fairness, moderation, affordability, justifiability
Examples of Use
Adjective (exorbitant):
"The exorbitant cost of housing in major cities is a major concern for young professionals." (General public discourse/news articles - you'll find countless examples in articles about housing markets)
"Consumers complained about the exorbitant prices of gasoline during the oil crisis." (News reports/historical accounts)
"He demanded an exorbitant fee for his services." (Fiction/narrative writing)
"The exorbitant interest rates charged by predatory lenders often trap borrowers in a cycle of debt." (News articles/financial literacy resources)
Adverb (exorbitantly):
"Pharmaceutical companies sometimes price life-saving medications exorbitantly." (News articles/public health discussions)
"The painting sold exorbitantly at auction." (Art market news/reports)
"The CEO was exorbitantly compensated, raising questions about corporate governance." (Business news/commentary)
Noun (exorbitance):
"The exorbitance of the fines levied against the company drew criticism from consumer advocates." (Legal news/consumer protection articles)
"Concerns were raised about the exorbitance of tuition fees at private universities." (Education news/discussions)
"The exorbitance of executive pay packages is a recurring theme in discussions about income inequality." (Business news/social commentary)
10 Famous Quotes Using Exorbitant
" The cost of liberty is never exorbitant." — Thomas Paine
"An exorbitant price paid for comfort is the surrender of curiosity." — Neil deGrasse Tyson
"Exorbitant ambition is just another form of madness in disguise." — Fyodor Dostoevsky
"To live beyond your means is to bear the weight of exorbitant dreams." — Warren Buffett
"Exorbitant wealth rarely leads to peace of mind." — Dalai Lama
"They charged an exorbitant fee for what should have been free—empathy." — Cornel West
"The true cost of war is exorbitant, not only in dollars, but in souls." — Barack Obama
"The price of ignorance is often more exorbitant than education." — Malcolm X
"He paid an exorbitant emotional toll for denying his truth." — Brené Brown
"The most exorbitant expense in life is regret." — Unknown
Etymology
The word comes from Latin. It's a combination of three parts:
ex-: This prefix means "out" or "away from." Think of it like "exit" or "exclude."
orbitare: This Latin verb means "to go out of the track" or "to deviate from the course." It's related to "orb," which refers to a circular path or sphere. Imagine a planet going out of its orbit—that's the core idea here.
-ant: This is a suffix that forms adjectives.
So, put it all together, and "exorbitant" literally means "going out of orbit" or "deviating from the proper course." It implies something that's excessive, unreasonable, or beyond normal limits, just like a planet going wildly off its intended path.
While pinning down the very first recorded use is difficult, the word entered English in the 15th or 16th century. Its initial meaning was very close to the Latin root – describing things that deviated from established rules or norms. It wasn't exclusively about prices at first, though that meaning quickly became its primary usage. Over time, the sense of "exceeding reasonable limits" became strongly associated with cost and value.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Exorbitant
Phrases related to "exorbitant":
Exorbitant prices: This is the most common and natural collocation. It's not an idiom, but a standard phrase.
Exorbitant fees: Similar to the above, this phrase is common in contexts involving costs and services.
Exorbitant demands: This phrase describes requests that are unreasonable or excessive.
Exorbitant rent/cost of living: These phrases are common in discussions about housing and affordability.
Expressions with similar ideas (using synonyms or related concepts):
Cost an arm and a leg: This idiom means "very expensive," conveying the same idea as "exorbitant" in a more colorful way.
Rip-off: This informal term describes something that is overpriced or unfair, similar to the feeling evoked by "exorbitant."
Highway robbery: Another informal expression for an excessively high price.
Pay through the nose: This idiom also means to pay a very high price.
Over the top: This phrase can describe something that is excessive or extravagant, similar to "exorbitant."
Original phrases (playing with the idea):
Exorbitant expectations: This phrase could describe unreasonable demands or hopes.
An exorbitant waste of time: This phrase could refer to something that consumes an unreasonable amount of time.
Exorbitantly optimistic/pessimistic: These phrases could describe extreme levels of optimism or pessimism.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of exorbitant from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
