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Vast vs Extreme - What's the difference?

vast | extreme |

As nouns the difference between vast and extreme

is that vast is west (compass point) while extreme is .

vast

English

Adjective

(en-adj)
  • Very large or wide (literally or figuratively).
  • The Sahara desert is vast .
    There is a vast difference between them.
  • Very great in size, amount, degree, intensity, or especially extent.
  • * {{quote-magazine, year=2012, month=March-April
  • , author=Anna Lena Phillips , title=Sneaky Silk Moths , volume=100, issue=2, page=172 , magazine=(American Scientist) citation , passage=Last spring, the periodical cicadas emerged across eastern North America. Their vast numbers and short above-ground life spans inspired awe and irritation in humans—and made for good meals for birds and small mammals.}}
  • (obsolete) Waste; desert; desolate; lonely.
  • * William Shakespeare, the Life and Death of Richard the Third Act I, scene IV:
  • the empty, vast , and wandering air

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (poetic) A vast space.
  • * 1608': they have seemed to be together, though absent, shook hands, as over a '''vast , and embraced, as it were, from the ends of opposed winds. — William Shakespeare, ''The Winter's Tale , I.i
  • Derived terms

    * vastly * vastness * ultravast

    Statistics

    *

    Anagrams

    * * ----

    extreme

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • Of a place, the most remote, farthest or outermost.
  • In the greatest or highest degree; intense.
  • * , chapter=13
  • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=And Vickers launched forth into a tirade very different from his platform utterances. He spoke with extreme contempt of the dense stupidity exhibited on all occasions by the working classes. He said that if you wanted to do anything for them, you must rule them, not pamper them.}}
  • Excessive, or far beyond the norm.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-03
  • , author=Frank Fish, George Lauder, volume=101, issue=2, page=114, magazine=(American Scientist) , title= Not Just Going with the Flow , passage=An extreme version of vorticity is a vortex . The vortex is a spinning, cyclonic mass of fluid, which can be observed in the rotation of water going down a drain, as well as in smoke rings, tornados and hurricanes.}}
  • Drastic, or of great severity.
  • Of sports, difficult or dangerous; performed in a hazardous environment.
  • (archaic) Ultimate, final or last.
  • the extreme hour of life

    Synonyms

    * (place) farthest, furthest, most distant, outermost, remotest * (in greatest or highest degree) greatest, highest * (excessive) excessive, too much * (drastic) drastic, severe * (sports) dangerous * (ultimate) final, last, ultimate

    Antonyms

    * (place) closest, nearest * (in greatest or highest degree) least * (excessive) moderate, reasonable * (drastic) moderate, reasonable

    Derived terms

    * extremeness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The greatest or utmost point, degree or condition.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=2 , passage=Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke.
  • Each of the things at opposite ends of a range or scale.
  • A drastic expedient.
  • (mathematics) Either of the two numbers at the ends of a proportion, as 1'' and ''6'' in ''1:2=3:6 .
  • Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (archaic) Extremely.
  • * 1796 Charles Burney, Memoirs of the Life and Writings of Metastasio 2.5:
  • In the empty and extreme cold theatre.

    Usage notes

    * Formerly used to modify adjectives and sometimes adverbs, but rarely verbs.

    Derived terms

    * extremism * extremist * extremity * extremely * extreme ironing * extreme unction

    See also

    * mean

    References

    * ----