FOREIGN Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'foreign' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of foreign are alien , extraneous , and extrinsic . While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," 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

Q: How do 'alien' and 'foreign' relate to one another?

Alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability. // a practice totally alien to her nature

Q: When is 'extraneous' a more appropriate choice than 'foreign'?

The words extraneous and foreign are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Q: When might 'extrinsic' be a better fit than 'foreign'?

In some situations, the words extrinsic and foreign are roughly equivalent. However, 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

foreign

adjective

ˈfȯr-ən

Definition of foreign

as in international

being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own more Americans should take an interest in foreign languages

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in external

not being a vital part of or belonging to something pediatricians often have to remove peas or other foreign bodies from inside the ears of curious toddlers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in multinational

relating to or involving two or more nations foreign trade has always been vital to the region's economic health

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of foreign are alien, extraneous, and extrinsic. While all these words mean "external to a thing, its essential nature, or its original character," 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

How do alien and foreign relate to one another?

Alien is stronger than foreign in suggesting opposition, repugnance, or irreconcilability.

a practice totally alien to her nature

When is extraneous a more appropriate choice than foreign?

The words extraneous and foreign are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 might extrinsic be a better fit than foreign?

In some situations, the words extrinsic and foreign are roughly equivalent. However, 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

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 foreign According to a 2024 Chicago Council on Global Affairs poll, just 19 percent of those surveyed expressed concern about foreign threats. — Seth G. Jones, Foreign Affairs, 3 Sep. 2026 Then again, the peripatetic existence of foreign reporting requires its own type of delusion. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 During its socialist revolution, the government kicked out many foreign oil companies. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026 The tension has continued for months and grown into one of the greatest foreign and defense policy challenges for countries in the European Union. — ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for foreign

Recent Examples of Synonyms for foreign

Adjective

Over the past three months, international futures markets saw cocoa rise by more than 60% cumulatively, coffee gain over 30%, and raw sugar futures increase by nearly 30%.

— , CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
No problem Pam Allgood's husband won't fly or get on a ship, but that doesn't stop her from crossing international borders.

— Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of international

Adjective

Build One Capability Beyond Your Current Role Build one capability beyond the current role through a deliberate stretch assignment, cross-functional project, certification or external contribution.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026
In terms of vacation homes, this style typically means open living rooms and external walls with solid lower portions.

— Annabelle Dufraigne, Architectural Digest, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of external

Adjective

This time round, Horvat is on to something even more deliciously odd with a study that mashes together grief, matrimonial disharmony, the alien nature of mathematical minds, and desire’s wild pursuit of obscure objects.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2026
The series follows two best friends, Māori character Māui from Aotearoa and Métis character Elvis from Canada, who set out to save Māui’s grandmother after an alien bent on world destruction takes over her body.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of alien

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

Rio de Janeiro and the Serra Fluminense Rafa Costa e Silva leads Lasai, an intimate 10-seat restaurant in Rio, where the cooking is driven by ingredients from nearby farms and small producers rather than imported luxury.

— Mikael Castro, Travel + Leisure, 15 Aug. 2026
This marks a dramatic turnaround from earlier years when imported titles commanded roughly double the audience of domestic productions.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025

Definition of imported

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

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

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foreheads

foreign

foreign aid

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“Foreign.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/foreign. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of foreign

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