N1 Degree and Emphasis

~極きわまりない: meaning, usage and examples

~極きわまりない means: extremely... / exceedingly...

Updated 9 November 2026 · By the My Senpai team · Spotted a mistake? Tell us

Examples

1. 彼かれの態度たいどは、失礼極しつれいきわまりない。

   His attitude is extremely rude.

2. 夜中よなかに大声おおごえで騒さわぐとは、迷惑めいわく極きわまりない。

   Making a racket late at night is exceedingly annoying.

3. 雨あめの夜よるに無灯火むとうかで自転車じてんしゃに乗のるのは、危険きけん極きわまりない。

   Riding a bike without a light on a rainy night is extremely dangerous.

4. 連絡れんらくもなく会議かいぎを欠席けっせきするとは、無責任むせきにん極きわまりない。

   Missing the meeting without a word is utterly irresponsible.

When to use it

Says a quality is at its utmost, almost always a bad one. It attaches to Sino-Japanese な-adjectives such as 失礼しつれい, 危険きけん, 不愉快ふゆかい, 無責任むせきにん, 迷惑めいわく. Example: 運転うんてん中ちゅうの携帯けいたい電話でんわは危険きけん極きわまりない (Using a phone while driving is extremely dangerous). Used to criticize behavior or a situation strongly.

Nuance

Formal and written, but also used in heated speech for strong disapproval. Mostly negative qualities. 極きわまる and 極きわまりない mean the same thing despite the ない. It does not follow い-adjectives (no 痛いたい極きわまりない).

Compare

～の極きわみ attaches to nouns and is often positive: 贅沢ぜいたくの極きわみ. ～の至いたり is a formal set phrase for feelings: 光栄こうえいの至いたり. ～極きわまりない criticizes: 無礼ぶれい極きわまりない. The everyday equivalent is simply とても or 本当ほんとうに: 本当ほんとうに失礼しつれいだ.

Tip: Think "criticism": if the adjective is 失礼しつれい, 危険きけん or 迷惑めいわく, 極きわまりない is natural; with praise it usually sounds wrong.