Definition of extinguishnext
1
as in to choke
to cause to cease burning the fire in the skillet was quickly extinguished by slamming the lid on

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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

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3
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of her final, telling point extinguished her opponents on the city council

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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 extinguish At least seven workers were injured, and a fire sparked by the impact was later extinguished by emergency crews. Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 2 Feb. 2026 However, the fact that early Cretaceous tracks have been found in both the Brenton and Robberg Formations proves that further investigation might reveal that the monumental disaster did not extinguish these beloved and fearsome dinosaurs, at least, not yet. Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Feb. 2026 The strike sparked a fire, which has since been extinguished, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 1 Feb. 2026 Firefighters battled the fire for more than two hours and remained on scene for 15 hours to ensure the fire was fully extinguished, officials said. Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinguish
Verb
  • Kenya choked under the dictatorship of Daniel arap Moi, who ruled from 1978 to 2002.
    Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
  • Just weeks after heroically saving a neighbor’s choking 1-year-old girl, an NYPD officer was at it again, saving the life of a 2-year-old boy who had stopped breathing in his Bronx home.
    Barry Williams, New York Daily News, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • But when a man from Anne’s past returns from war, a curse begins to take shape through a mysterious knight and threatens to destroy them all.
    Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Feb. 2026
  • Plenty of plants were destroyed in the Eaton and Palisades fires, of course, especially highly flammable shrubs like tall, skinny arborvitae.
    Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Top sleep aid for kids This extremely popular sound machine uses an authentic human voice to calm babies to sleep with a calming, shushing sound.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2026
  • Kempe then put a gloved finger to his lips, shushing the sixth consecutive sellout crowd in Anaheim.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 18 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • In Aquarius, Mercury is intellectually stimulating, like partaking in clever banter and cerebral conversations that quench your curiosity.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
  • Perhaps one of its most famous ads, a 1992 ad starring Cindy Crawford, who quenches her thirst with a Pepsi, actually lost out to a Nike commercial featuring Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny.
    Mike Snider, USA Today, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The World Food Program said in an earlier statement that its warehouse was demolished by Somali authorities.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
  • The building will be demolished to make way for an 86-unit affordable housing development, according to board documents.
    Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The goal isn’t to silence voices, but to make sure the platform stays safe and sustainable for creators, viewers, and advertisers.
    Christopher DiLella, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
  • There are high hopes for US biotech company Scribe Therapeutics' STX-1150 treatment, which epigenetically silences the PCSK9 gene in the liver to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The Clash had been scheduled to run Sunday night and has now been postponed twice, with a schedule adjustment, because of the intense snowfall that blanketed the area.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Feb. 2026
  • Dense fog will blanket the San Joaquin Valley each morning this week, according to the National Weather Service’s area forecast discussion.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 1 Feb. 2026
  • To say much more would be to ruin the wild twists and turns that unfold as the night marches onward.
    Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Extinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguish. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.

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