as in defunct
no longer existing
a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of extinct
The shark, likely an extinct mako species related to today’s great white, appears to have targeted the whale’s head, possibly attempting to access the fat-rich tissues used in echolocation.
—
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Eight crested ibises were released into the wild in a north-central Japanese town, decades after the birds went extinct in the country.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
The poolside vacation isn’t going extinct — but travelers are increasingly demanding more from their trips than a tan and a keychain.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
The grizzly bear is the state’s mascot, but the quarter-ton apex predators have been extinct in California for more than a century.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinct
Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Eight crested ibises were released into the wild in a north-central Japanese town, decades after the birds went extinct in the country.
—ABC News, 31 May 2026
The poolside vacation isn’t going extinct — but travelers are increasingly demanding more from their trips than a tan and a keychain.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
The grizzly bear is the state’s mascot, but the quarter-ton apex predators have been extinct in California for more than a century.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinct
Adjective
-
For example, when members of the now defunct Transitional Presidential Council sought to extend their hold on power as their terms neared their end, they were met with warnings from both Wooster and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
-
Coskun lined up another spectacular shot of the moon rising above the Bay Bridge that same night, as the infamous, and now defunct island prison of Alcatraz loomed out of the shadowy waters.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Suddenly, photos, videos, or important documents are just… gone.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
15 May 2026
-
Room by room, the author takes us through the house, now long gone.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Toss expired toiletries, old school papers, worn clothes, and unused winter gear to simplify your space.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
1 June 2026
-
In the bathroom, replace your toothbrush and clean your shower curtain every three months, and toss expired medications.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
Our elections have fixed what’s wrong over the decades, but thinking a tired candidate with a long resume is the answer should now be obsolete.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
3 June 2026
-
The Retail Investor Has Arrived, For Good Now, that assumption is becoming obsolete, and at lightning speed.—
Harry Temkin,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinct. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
