Synonyms of extinguish

extinguish

verb

ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish 

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

• choke
• quench
• blanket
• douse
• put out
• snuff (out)
• smother
• suffocate
• blow out
• stamp (out)
• stub
• snub (out)
• rub out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fire
• light
• ignite
• kindle
• inflame

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

• destroy
• demolish
• ruin
• shatter
• devastate
• overcome
• wreck
• smash
• annihilate
• damage
• vaporize
• waste
• erode
• decimate
• raze
• pulverize
• ravage
• kill
• desolate
• pull down
• tear down
• cream
• subdue
• dismantle
• remove
• defeat
• rub out
• total
• mar
• cripple
• crush
• nuke
• injure
• break
• conquer
• eradicate
• impair
• wrack
• do in
• dissolve
• best
• blast
• disintegrate
• surmount
• harm
• obliterate
• lick
• spoil
• trim
• prevail (over)
• deteriorate
• vitiate
• master
• win (against)
• exterminate
• extirpate
• triumph (over)
• expunge
• disfigure
• undo
• mutilate
• wear (away)
• rout
• sweep (away)
• liquidate
• scotch
• thrash
• whip
• beat
• dynamite
• blow up
• efface
• assassinate
• deface
• slay
• disassemble
• wipe out
• wash out
• clobber
• trounce
• mangle
• scour
• overbear
• execute
• unmake
• slaughter
• fell
• plunder
• overmatch
• trample
• sack
• take down
• blot out
• despoil
• cut down
• drub
• pillage
• zap
• snuff (out)
• kill off
• stamp (out)
• murder
• massacre
• dispatch
• loot
• havoc
• skunk
• vandalize
• gut
• take out
• mow (down)
• wallop
• unbuild
• dilapidate
• trash
• root (out)
• butcher

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• build
• construct
• raise
• create
• set up
• erect
• put up
• repair
• fix
• produce
• rear
• patch
• make
• establish
• invent
• protect
• found
• form
• mend
• preserve
• manufacture
• constitute
• assemble
• forge
• shape
• save
• organize
• fabricate
• conserve
• mold
• bring about
• recondition
• restore
• revamp
• frame
• institute
• fashion
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• doctor
• renovate
• father
• remodel

3

as in to shush

to stop the noise or speech of

her final, telling point extinguished her opponents on the city council

Synonyms & Similar Words

• shush
• silence
• settle
• mute
• quell
• quiet
• hush
• dumb
• still
• shut up
• squelch
• quieten

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• stir
• agitate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of extinguish

But none quite managed to fully extinguish the blaze, which is why the grand prize ultimately remained out of reach in this track as well. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2026

The difference is that, like early insurance companies, CTS extinguishes only the fires it is paid, including by Tensor, to put out. — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Crews continued mopping up the fire Monday, strengthening containment lines and extinguishing hot spots at least 300 feet inside the perimeter. — Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 2026

Throughout the song, water and thirst become metaphors for overwhelming desire, with the singers acknowledging that their connection is powerful enough to extinguish — or ignite — the fire between them. — Isabela Raygoza, Billboard, 18 Sep. 2026