extinction

noun

ik-ˈstiŋ(k)-shən How to pronounce extinction (audio)
Definition of extinctionnext
as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless the state's population of moose has been replenished, having once been hunted almost to extinction

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 extinction Whalers hunted bowheads intensively in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, pushing them towards extinction. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 In 2023, Gates, along with Suleyman, Hassabis, and hundreds of other tech and policy leaders, signed a statement saying the risk of extinction from AI should be treated as a global priority alongside pandemics and nuclear war. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 26 Aug. 2026 Free mall parking is the latest complimentary perk on the verge of extinction. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Colossal Biosciences, a de-extinction company trying to bring back the Woolly Mammoth, has enlisted the beloved pups in its efforts to save endangered species. — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for extinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinction
  1. destruction
  2. devastation
  3. havoc
  4. loss
  5. demolition
  6. extermination
Noun
  • Photos quickly spread across Telegram channels, showing where the destruction has occurred.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Sep. 2026
  • As rescuers carried the priest’s body away from the destruction, a photographer snapped a photo.
    — René Ostberg, Encyclopedia Britannica, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of destruction
Noun
  • Once there, staring at the devastation, there was no denying the reality of death.
    — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026
  • That moment came after floodwaters caused the Guadalupe River to rise to historic levels in the early morning hours of Independence Day, bringing death and devastation to Kerr County and the surrounding area.
    — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of devastation
Noun
  • Although not a direct hit, Lala dumped nearly 3 feet of rain on the Big Island, bringing widespread havoc.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In the movie, a group of teens accidentally release a bunch of monsters from Stine’s book collection, creating complete havoc and plenty of great family-friendly frights.
    — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of havoc
Noun
  • Across a run of six defeats in seven matches, which left his tenure hanging by a thread, the Forest and Brighton losses were the worst.
    — Beren Cross, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Rice lipids and jojoba oil seal in moisture and replenish the skin barrier, while 2% ectoin soothes redness and protects against water loss.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of loss
Noun
  • But just a couple of hundred yards away, Israeli tanks and bulldozers are visible, and the demolition of buildings continues apace.
    — Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The Marriott Marquis hotel tower replaced five of them, including the beloved old Morosco, and outrage over their demolition continues to this day.
    — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of demolition
Noun
  • The ongoing tempest includes Camille Sims (Alexandria Riley) having to prevent a Safeguard extermination as the new Head of IT this year, and the revelation of ex-security chief Robert Sims (Common) regarding Bernard (Tim Robbins).
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Decreasing habitat, poaching, and extermination are some of the reasons why cheetahs are endangered.
    — Michelle Richardson, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of extermination

Browse Nearby Words

extinct
extinction
extinctions
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Cite this Entry

“Extinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinction. Accessed 8 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on extinction

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about extinction

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