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 Flames and smoke poured from the large church for hours before the blaze was extinguished. Isabella Volmert, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025 Video from the scene shows dark billowing smoke rising into the air and multiple firetrucks working to extinguish the fire. Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025 The suspect was shot by responding officers and the fire has since been extinguished, police said. Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 28 Sep. 2025 One of the bedrooms was found fully engulfed, and firefighters extinguished the flames. Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinguish
Verb
  • Previous unbeatens Florida State and USC — favorites — choked on the road.
    Manny Navarro, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • In the afterglow of her magnificent album, choke enough, and the birth of her first child, Marylou Mayniel decamps to the southwest of France.
    Anna Gaca, Pitchfork, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a five-floor apartment building in the Solomyanskyi district was partially destroyed and caught fire.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 28 Sep. 2025
  • Mexico built a hydroelectric dam, where these golden barrel cactuses live and in an instant their environment was destroyed and this species was almost wiped out.
    Eyder Peralta, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Justin Thomas found himself in the unique position of trying to amp up the crowd in support of his team, while also trying to shush them so that his opponents could have a fair chance of playing.
    Don Riddell, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Booing begins, and then shushing, and then booing again.
    Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • French smart telescope pioneer Vaonis helps quench my thirst with a special edition of its flagship that puts the inner workings on view.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Traditional methods rely on heating metals to extreme temperatures, then rapidly quenching them to trap atoms in a chaotic arrangement.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Although a formal vote was not taken, there was consensus among the city council members on Monday night to demolish the old City Hall and to preserve the old fire station, Leawood spokesperson Beth Breitenstein said in an email.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The Jokake Inn closed in the late 1970s and was demolished, except for its Pueblo revival-style belfry towers, which were incorporated into The Phoenician.
    Douglas C. Towne, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But our industry — and artists around the world — have a long history of refusing to be silenced, even in the darkest times.
    Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 2 Oct. 2025
  • In a prerecorded message, Lee said silencing a voice cannot silence an idea and urged attendees to carry on Kirk’s mission.
    Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Probably somewhere in the stands, on a pit crew member’s back, doused in confetti and champagne like last time.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Williams' mechanics immediately got to task with CO2 extinguishers to douse the flames.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.
    Don Sweeney, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025
  • The jerky in particular has ruined me for all other beef jerky—so be forewarned the same might happen to you.
    Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Extinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguish. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.

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