EXTINCT Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

extinct

adjective

ik-ˈstiŋ(k)t

Definition of extinct

as in defunct

no longer existing a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization

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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 Poor insulation likely caused hesperornithiforms and enantiornithines to go extinct. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026 By the ’50s, the accessory that launched a riot was virtually extinct. — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 4, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026 Now the smell has gone, unforgotten by elderly noses but irretrievably extinct. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2026 Food production will drop, people will go hungry, water shortages will worsen, economies will be hurt and species like coral will go extinct, the report said. — ABC News, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for extinct

Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinct

Adjective

The defunct Amtrak line, which ran more than 2,600 miles between Seattle and Chicago, ferried passengers to stops in Boise, Pocatello and Salt Lake City, winding along tracks that still carve through Idaho’s Snake River Plain today.

— Rose Evans September 15, Idaho Statesman, 15 Sep. 2026
Save the Sound has been leading efforts to demolish some of the state’s defunct and abandoned dams.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of defunct

Adjective

Caregivers are reminded never to use an expired car seat, as outlined in the product user manual.

— Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Using expired serums or creams as part of your nighttime routine can leave you with weaker results and a higher chance of irritation.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of expired

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externships

extinct

extinction

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“Extinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinct. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of extinct

adjective

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