Great vs. Extreme — What's the Difference?

Very large in size, extent, or intensity

Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest

Of a larger size than other, similar forms

Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense

Large in quantity or number

Being far beyond the norm

Extensive in time or distance

Of the greatest severity; drastic

Remarkable or outstanding in magnitude, degree, or extent

Characterized by severe, usually oxygen-poor environmental conditions.

Of outstanding significance or importance

Having an affinity for such conditions

Chief or principal

Very dangerous or difficult

Superior in quality or character; noble

Participating or tending to participate in a very dangerous or difficult sport

Powerful; influential

(Archaic) Final; last.

Eminent; distinguished

The greatest or utmost degree or point.

Very good; first-rate

Either of the two things situated at opposite ends of a range

Very skillful

An extreme condition.

Enthusiastic

An immoderate, drastic expedient

Being one generation removed from the relative specified. Often used in combination

The first or last term of a ratio or a series.

(Archaic) Pregnant.

A maximum or minimum value of a function.

Pl. greats or great One that is great

(Logic) The major or minor term of a syllogism.

A division of most pipe organs, usually containing the most powerful ranks of pipes.

Of a place, the most remote, farthest or outermost.

A similar division of other organs.

In the greatest or highest degree; intense.

Very well

Excessive, or far beyond the norm.

Used as an intensive with certain adjectives

Drastic, or of great severity.

(augmentative) Large, senior high-ranking, intense, extreme, or exceptional

Of sports, difficult or dangerous; performed in a hazardous environment.

Relatively large in scale, size, extent, number (i.e. having many parts or members) or duration (i.e. relatively long); very big.

(archaic) Ultimate, final or last.

Title referring to an important leader.

The greatest or utmost point, degree or condition.

Of larger size or more importance than others of its kind.

Each of the things at opposite ends of a range or scale.

(informal) Very good; excellent; wonderful; fantastic.

One of the last moments of life.

Intensifying a word or expression, used in mild oaths.

A drastic expedient.

(qualifying nouns of family relationship) Involving more generations than the qualified word implies — as many extra generations as repetitions of the word great (from 1510s). [see Derived terms]

Hardships, straits.

Pregnant; large with young; full of.

(mathematics) Either of the two numbers at the ends of a proportion, as 1 and 6 in 1:2=3:6.

Intimate; familiar.

(archaic) Extremely.

Extreme or more than usual.

At the utmost point, edge, or border; outermost; utmost; farthest; most remote; at the widest limit.

Of significant importance or consequence; important.

Last; final; conclusive; - said of time; as, the extreme hour of life.

(applied to actions, thoughts and feelings) Arising from or possessing idealism; admirable; superior; commanding; heroic; illustrious; eminent.

The best of worst; most urgent; greatest; highest; immoderate; excessive; most violent; as, an extreme case; extreme folly.

Impressive or striking.

Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions.

Much in use; favoured.

Extended or contracted as much as possible; - said of intervals; as, an extreme sharp second; an extreme flat forth.

(applied to persons) Endowed with extraordinary powers; of exceptional talents or achievements; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; remarkable; strong; powerful; mighty; noble.

The utmost point or verge; that part which terminates a body; extremity.

Doing or exemplifying (a characteristic or pursuit) on a large scale; active or enthusiastic.

Utmost limit or degree that is supposable or tolerable; hence, furthest degree; any undue departure from the mean; - often in the plural: things at an extreme distance from each other, the most widely different states, etc.; as, extremes of heat and cold, of virtue and vice; extremes meet.

(often followed by 'at') Skilful or adroit.

An extreme state or condition; hence, calamity, danger, distress, etc.

Expression of gladness and content about something.

Either of the extreme terms of a syllogism, the middle term being interposed between them.

Sarcastic inversion thereof.

The first or the last term of a proportion or series.

A person of major significance, accomplishment or acclaim.

The furthest or highest degree of something;

(music) The main division in a pipe organ, usually the loudest division.

The point located farthest from the middle of something

(in combinations such as "two-greats", "three-greats" etc.) An instance of the word "great" signifying an additional generation in phrases expressing family relationships.

Of the greatest possible degree or extent or intensity;

(informal) Very well in a very satisfactory manner.

Far beyond a norm in quantity or amount or degree; to an utmost degree;

Large in space; of much size; big; immense; enormous; expanded; - opposed to small and little; as, a great house, ship, farm, plain, distance, length.

Beyond a norm in views or actions;

Large in number; numerous; as, a great company, multitude, series, etc.

Most distant in any direction;

Long continued; lengthened in duration; prolonged in time; as, a great while; a great interval.

Superior; admirable; commanding; - applied to thoughts, actions, and feelings.

Endowed with extraordinary powers; uncommonly gifted; able to accomplish vast results; strong; powerful; mighty; noble; as, a great hero, scholar, genius, philosopher, etc.

Holding a chief position; elevated: lofty: eminent; distinguished; foremost; principal; as, great men; the great seal; the great marshal, etc.

Entitled to earnest consideration; weighty; important; as, a great argument, truth, or principle.

Pregnant; big (with young).

More than ordinary in degree; very considerable in degree; as, to use great caution; to be in great pain.

Older, younger, or more remote, by single generation; - often used before grand to indicate one degree more remote in the direct line of descent; as, great-grandfather (a grandfather's or a grandmother's father), great-grandson, etc.

The whole; the gross; as, a contract to build a ship by the great.

Relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind;

More than usual;

(used of persons) standing above others in character or attainment or reputation;

Of major significance or importance;

Remarkable or out of the ordinary in degree or magnitude or effect;

Very good;

Uppercase;

Marked by active interest and enthusiasm;

In an advanced stage of pregnancy;