1
as in to choke
to cause to cease burning
the fire in the skillet was quickly extinguished by slamming the lid on
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to destroy
to bring to a complete end the physical soundness, existence, or usefulness of
a fatal blunder that extinguished all hope that the team would actually win the play-offs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extinguish
The only way to extinguish the doubt is to respond.
—
James Boyd, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
While lighting candles of various colors is part of its veneration, Saint Death has nothing to do with fires or extinguishing them.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
It was extinguished within 24 hours.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The truck fire and a secondary fire that ignited in a storm drain under the bridge were extinguished.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
James Boyd, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
While lighting candles of various colors is part of its veneration, Saint Death has nothing to do with fires or extinguishing them.
—Ray Sanchez, CNN Money, 2 Nov. 2025
It was extinguished within 24 hours.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2025
The truck fire and a secondary fire that ignited in a storm drain under the bridge were extinguished.
—Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinguish
Verb
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The drought has also set the stage for devastating wildfires in Brazil that have destroyed huge swaths of the Amazon as well as the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetlands, and choked cities in thick smoke.—
Laura Paddison,
CNN Money,
6 Nov. 2025
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For younger children, this is a matter of safety, as toys intended for older kids can contain small pieces that pose choking hazards or materials that aren’t safe to chew on.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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So, automation can be used to destroy labor or workers’ power, but it can also be used in the opposite direction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Homes, businesses and synagogues were destroyed.—
Arizona Republic,
AZCentral.com,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In the clip, the then-6-year-old can be seen walking with his iPad to the next room and shushing everyone.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
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The View has a long history of guests receiving sustained standing ovations — and Goldberg attempting to shush rowdy audience members.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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To quench her thirst, the women served the baby sips of water from the plastic cap of a gallon water jug.—
Daniel Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Fenty Hair – The Rich One Moisture Repair Conditioner gives my hair just enough so it’s quenched, but not weighed down.—
Kayla Greaves,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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During the closure, crews will demolish the Lister Avenue Bridge and the pedestrian bridge at Oakley Avenue over I-70.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Nov. 2025
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The military showed us a map of Hamas tunnel routes Israeli forces are still discovering and demolishing in the area.—
Daniel Estrin,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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These political executions are a callous attempt by the authorities to frighten and silence an increasingly restive population no longer willing to accept their corrupt and oppressive rule.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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Service members such as Partezana were sworn to silence for 43 years following the tests — until the law mandating that silence was lifted in 1996 — and given little warning about the harmful physical side effects of nuclear fallout.—
Hope Hodge Seck,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Monitoring with precision Where traditional pest control often resorts to blanket spray applications, IPM involves careful observation.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
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Days earlier, a blizzard hit the country, blanketing it in snow.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
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So, no, women didn’t ruin the workplace.—
Emma Hinchliffe,
Fortune,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguish. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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