extinct

adjective

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ex·tinct | \ ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t

, ˈek-ˌstiŋ(k)t

Definition of extinct

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : no longer burning

b : no longer active an extinct volcano

2 : no longer existing an extinct animal

3a : gone out of use : superseded

b : having no qualified claimant an extinct title

extinct

verb

extincted; extincting; extincts

Definition of extinct (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

archaic

: extinguish

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About extinct

Synonyms & Antonyms for extinct

Synonyms: Adjective

Antonyms: Adjective

Examples of extinct in a Sentence

Adjective Many of these old traditions have since become extinct. a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Its closest relative — the long extinct simocyon — was a puma-like creature that lived about 18 million years ago, National Geographic reports. — Fox News, 11 Aug. 2022 The creature, now extinct, has fossils that date back 20 million years. — Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2022 It was developed by billionaire Edmond Safra and private equity investor-turned-restaurateur Juan Santa Cruz in an effort to fill the gap that nearly extinct offices have left for the world’s richest workers. — Jane Thier, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2022 The construction of those dams, which began more than 80 years ago, rendered salmon extinct in hundreds of miles of rivers and destroyed the area’s most important fishing grounds. — Tony Schick, ProPublica, 4 Aug. 2022 Other unusual Samoan sites include the crater of an extinct volcano where wild goldfish swim. — Johanna Read, Forbes, 3 Aug. 2022 After a century that almost rendered wild Asian tigers extinct, Nepal has turned the fate of the big cat species around. — Bellamy Richardson, Peoplemag, 2 Aug. 2022 The analysis showed, however, that the extinct panda mostly ate plants, although not almost exclusively bamboo like giant pandas today. — Tom Metcalfe, NBC News, 1 Aug. 2022 As the window closes to find more evidence to prove the bird is endangered rather than extinct, those who’ve been searching for the woodpecker are doubling down efforts to stop it from being relinquished to the pages of history books. — Nick Popowitch, Arkansas Online, 27 July 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'extinct.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.