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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extinguish
The darkness will never extinguish the light.
—
Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Hopkins told The Star that crews had to cut open the roof in a few places to extinguish the fire.
—Jenna Thompson
june 1, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
While crews were able to stop the fire’s spread, the Bureau of Land Management did not have an estimate for when it would be fully extinguished.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 1 June 2026
That is to say, the Church extinguished his art.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Chicago Tribune, 2 June 2026
Hopkins told The Star that crews had to cut open the roof in a few places to extinguish the fire.
—Jenna Thompson
june 1, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2026
While crews were able to stop the fire’s spread, the Bureau of Land Management did not have an estimate for when it would be fully extinguished.
—Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 1 June 2026
That is to say, the Church extinguished his art.
—Doreen St. Félix, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinguish
Verb
-
Hilton has raised crucial issues about Newsom’s overspending, low state K-12 test scores, high taxes choking the middle class, high gas prices and the endemic housing and homelessness crises.—
John Seiler,
Oc Register,
29 May 2026
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As discomforting as that sounds, there is no proof the 7-foot, 9-inch dolphin choked to death, according to Lauren Rust, executive director of the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network and South Carolina Marine Mammal Stranding Coordinator.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Fueled by large stocks of critically dry vegetation and extreme winds, the fires killed 31 people, destroyed nearly 12,000 homes, and forced over 150,000 evacuations.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
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But satellite images reviewed by CNN show how Iran has used simple equipment such as bulldozers and dump trucks to counter those costly campaigns — suggesting that Tehran’s missile capabilities can’t be destroyed just by targeting tunnel entrances, experts said.—
Tamara Qiblawi,
CNN Money,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Wine country with kids in tow doesn’t have to mean a stressful afternoon of shushing and screen time.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 June 2026
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Turning to shush it, Adele saw Dean with his tongue in her mother’s mouth and his hand up under her minidress.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Verb
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This song ends the same way — nobody notices her quiet everyday heroism, but nothing can quench her spirit.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2026
-
Simply apply one to your lips with your fingertips, a small applicator, or a Q-tip, and leave it on undisturbed to soften and quench dry lips.—
Emma Greene,
InStyle,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Two other properties were purchased in 2024, one of which was a barbershop that was demolished, and a third property was purchased in 2025.—
Delia Rose Sauer,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
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Before filing plans to demolish the building within the next two weeks, Kennedy planned Thursday night’s event to honor the structure.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Derron Donaldson, director of racquets at Baha Mar, echoes the sentiment, also reminding spectators to silence phones.—
Rachel Chang,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
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The athleisure retailer reached a cooperation agreement with Wilson, adding two of his candidates to its board and silencing Wilson’s public criticism of the company for 18 months, writes Forbes senior contributor Pamela Danziger.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Video showed the walls of the complex blanketed with ash and the roof collapsed amid the remains of the structure.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
28 May 2026
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Forest fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan can also blanket neighboring Malaysia and Singapore in haze.—
Angelica Ang,
Fortune,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Our house, ruined by the 1987 Whittier Narrows earthquake, was rebuilt from the foundation up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
Undefeated this season on clay, the 15th-seeded Ukrainian player reached the quarterfinals at the French Open for the first time on Sunday by taking out four-time champion Iga Swiatek 7-5, 6-1 and ruining her birthday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguish. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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