The Opposite(Antonym) of “extraneous”
The antonym of extraneous is relevant, pertinent, and essential. The antonyms relevant, pertinent, and essential convey a sense of importance or necessity. It implies that something is necessary, appropriate, or directly related to the topic at hand.
Definitions and Examples of relevant, pertinent, essential
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
Closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
Example
The professor only allows relevant sources for the research paper.
Directly related to the matter at hand; relevant.
Example
The lawyer asked only pertinent questions during the cross-examination.
Absolutely necessary; extremely important.
Example
Water is essential for human survival.
Key Differences: relevant vs pertinent vs essential
- 1Relevant refers to something that is closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered.
- 2Pertinent means directly related to the matter at hand.
- 3Essential is an absolute term that denotes something that is absolutely necessary or extremely important.
Effective Usage of relevant, pertinent, essential
- 1Academic Writing: Use relevant, pertinent, and essential to support arguments and provide evidence.
- 2Business Communication: Incorporate antonyms in emails and reports to convey importance and relevance.
- 3Everyday Conversation: Utilize these antonyms to express the importance or necessity of something.
Remember this!
The antonyms have distinct nuances: Relevant refers to something closely connected or appropriate, pertinent means directly related to the matter at hand, and essential denotes something that is absolutely necessary or extremely important. Use these words in academic writing to support arguments and provide evidence, in business communication to convey importance and relevance, and in everyday conversation to express the importance or necessity of something.
