Exuberant vs exorbitant

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Grammarist

Exuberant and exorbitant are two words that originated sometime in the mid-1400s. We will examine the definitions of the words exuberant and exorbitant, where they came from and some examples of their use in sentences.

Exuberant describes someone or something that is full of energy, enthusiastic, vigorous. Exuberant may also describe something that is growing profusely or is prolific. Exuberant is an adjective, the adverb form is exuberantly, the noun form is exuberance. The word exuberant is derived from the Latin word exuberantem, meaning overabundance.

Exorbitant describes something that is overpriced, something with an unreasonably high cost, something extravagant. The word exorbitant is an adjective, the noun form is exorbitance and the adverb from is exorbitantly. The word exorbitant is derived from the Latin word exorbitantem which means to deviate or go off track. A common misspelling of exorbitant is exhorbitant, but this is never correct. This spelling may be a confusion with the word exhort.

Examples

Seattle welcomed home favorite son Macklemore as he concluded the stateside portion of his “Gemini” tour with an exuberant, sold-out show Friday night at KeyArena. (The Seattle Times)

The BJP today reacted exuberantly to the rise in India’s GDP growth rate with the party chief Amit Shah saying it underlined “India Unstoppable” story but the opposition Congress observed it was a “temporary pause” from the downward trend though an “encouraging sign”. (The Economic Times)

Virginia House of Delegates Republican Caucus Chairman Timothy Hugo (R-Fairfax) and some other state and county officials criticized Gov. Terry McAuliffe and the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) for the “exorbitant tolls.” (The Fairfax Times)

“There is a significant risk, in such proceedings, that members of plaintiff groups may be required to pay lawyers’ fees which are exorbitant and unjustifiable,” Senator Brandis said. (Lawyers Weekly)