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
Video showed flames on a large refinery tank with thick black smoke that was quickly extinguished.
—
Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
Firefighters used multiple hose lines to extinguish the fire.
—Robert A. Cronkleton
march 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
There was a risk of electrocution, so firefighters needed to confirm with Xcel Energy that power to the area was out before extinguishing the vehicle fire, Smith said.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating after two people were found dead on the second floor of a burning home in San Marcos as firefighters extinguished the blaze Saturday night, authorities said.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 30 Mar. 2026
Firefighters used multiple hose lines to extinguish the fire.
—Robert A. Cronkleton
march 30, Kansas City Star, 30 Mar. 2026
There was a risk of electrocution, so firefighters needed to confirm with Xcel Energy that power to the area was out before extinguishing the vehicle fire, Smith said.
—Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 30 Mar. 2026
Sheriff’s detectives are investigating after two people were found dead on the second floor of a burning home in San Marcos as firefighters extinguished the blaze Saturday night, authorities said.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinguish
Verb
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Some victims were physically assaulted, including one person who was choked to the point of nearly losing consciousness, according to court documents.—
Christopher Harris,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Iran controls the Straits of Hormuz, trade — especially in vital oil — is choked, and the price of gas at the pump already exceeds $4 a gallon.—
Rob Crilly,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Later, a fire at Hall’s grandmother’s house would destroy most of his magic act.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
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This time around, in that first wave of strikes on February 28, American cruise missiles targeted and destroyed a building that ended up being a girls’ school—killing more than 168 young children who had just started their day of classes.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some shushed the crowds, urging them to be silent and reverent.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Levy sat on the floor, watching like a proud father and shushing whisperers.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The resulting wine is quenching and effortless—layered white peach, jasmine, lime pith, and an intriguing minerality.—
Kate Bernot,
Outside,
30 Mar. 2026
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As spring replaces winter’s chill, more people are reaching for a mix of spirits and mixers to quench their thirst.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The project, which was announced by the White House in July, became a highly controversial undertaking when the East Wing was suddenly demolished to accommodate the 90,000 square foot ballroom.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
2 Apr. 2026
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The Panorama City facility is set to demolish its main ice rink, leaving athletes who use the center with a smaller, non-regulation rink.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Under both regimes, Black voices and ideas are silenced.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Mar. 2026
-
It was finally silenced, to cheers from the crowd, but then the main scoreboard and video screen that hangs over the middle of the court went dark.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the mid-February storm blanketed Tahoe in 9 feet of snow, mountain residents watched in disbelief as rain washed it away like cotton candy.—
Gregory Thomas,
San Francisco Chronicle,
28 Mar. 2026
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Dogs run freely in the green meadows and forests, where the smell of cooking fires lingers in the air and cottonwood seeds blanket dirt roads crisscrossing the site.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
29 Mar. 2026
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Accused of ruining baseball with their big-spending ways the past two years, the noise has only gotten louder as a labor showdown looms.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguish. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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