2extreme noun
plural ex·tremes [count] 1 : either one of two opposite conditions, feelings, positions, etc., that are thought of as being far from what is normal or reasonable
▪ After spending lavishly for years, the company has now gone to the opposite/other extreme and has cut expenses drastically. ▪ His mood changed/swung from one extreme to the other. — often plural ▪ experiencing extremes of emotion ▪ The temperature in the desert ranges between extremes of heat and cold. ▪ Their political views represent the extremes within the party. ▪ There are people at both extremes within the party. 2 : an amount or degree that is far beyond what is normal or reasonable
▪ The movie changes the story to such an extreme [=changes it so much] that it's hardly recognizable. ▪ They are being pushed/driven to ridiculous extremes. [=being forced to do much more than seems reasonable] ◊If you carry/take (something) to extremes or go to extremes, you do much more than most people would consider reasonable or normal.
▪ The problems in our school system can be solved without going to (such) extremes. ▪ Problems can occur when people carry/take dieting to extremes.
▪ After spending lavishly for years, the company has now gone to the opposite/other extreme and has cut expenses drastically. ▪ His mood changed/swung from one extreme to the other. — often plural ▪ experiencing extremes of emotion ▪ The temperature in the desert ranges between extremes of heat and cold. ▪ Their political views represent the extremes within the party. ▪ There are people at both extremes within the party.
▪ The movie changes the story to such an extreme [=changes it so much] that it's hardly recognizable. ▪ They are being pushed/driven to ridiculous extremes. [=being forced to do much more than seems reasonable] ◊If you carry/take (something) to extremes or go to extremes, you do much more than most people would consider reasonable or normal.
▪ The problems in our school system can be solved without going to (such) extremes. ▪ Problems can occur when people carry/take dieting to extremes.
in the extreme
formal : to the greatest possible degree — used to make a statement more forceful ▪ I'm finding it difficult in the extreme [=very/extremely difficult] to deal with this situation.
