1
as in blankets
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 destroys
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 extinguishes
After the fish has dropped, a bucket of water from Enid Lake extinguishes the fire.
—
Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Other projectile powers satisfy in and out of combat, like the ice shot that extinguishes fires and freezes foes in their tracks.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Like a true professional, the actor quickly flicks the photo and extinguishes the blaze without ever breaking character — despite internally freaking out — to nail the perfect shot.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
The 27-year-old's extension extinguishes any remaining embers surrounding the possibility of the Mavericks trading him this offseason.
—Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Elliott Harrell, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
Other projectile powers satisfy in and out of combat, like the ice shot that extinguishes fires and freezes foes in their tracks.
—PC Magazine, 2 Dec. 2025
Like a true professional, the actor quickly flicks the photo and extinguishes the blaze without ever breaking character — despite internally freaking out — to nail the perfect shot.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 21 Oct. 2025
The 27-year-old's extension extinguishes any remaining embers surrounding the possibility of the Mavericks trading him this offseason.
—Bobby Krivitsky, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinguishes
Verb
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Both Interstate 80 and Highway 50 in Northern California's high country are seeing closures on Tuesday as extreme weather blankets the region.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
17 Feb. 2026
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During the winter months, when snow blankets much of the country and fresh produce can feel limited, frozen vegetables are a reliable shortcut that Southern chefs turn to again and again.—
Amber Love Bond,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, as with alcohol, gambling also destroys lives.—
Jim Nowlan,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
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Israel routinely destroys equipment meant for reconstruction; Human Rights Watch found that Israel had destroyed more than 360 heavy machines — bulldozers, excavators, and factories producing asphalt and cement — in four different attacks in south Lebanon.—
Justin Salhani,
The Dial,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Group of Seven finance ministers are set to discuss a possible joint release of oil reserves on Monday, according to people familiar with the matter, as the Middle East war chokes flows from the region and sends prices soaring.—
Alberto Nardelli,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
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Their inclusion on the recent flight comes as the United States chokes the nation’s oil supplies in a bid for negotiations that could end up in regime change, sparking questions about whether Cuba will take more deportations to ease the political and economic pressure.—
Syra Ortiz Blanes,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The latest filing demolishes the timeworn claim that DOGE was infiltrated into Social Security in order to responsibly ferret out fraud and overspending.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Allison’s chilling prophecy about Kyle silences the table, quickly shifting the mood.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Feb. 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
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This super-moisturizing yet ultra-light gel cream quenches thirsty skin and increases hydration.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
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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
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The series, based on a novel by Araminta Hall, delves into a crime that shatters a long-standing friendship among the three lead characters.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Mar. 2026
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The glass shatters with a spray that shimmers in the lantern light.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Toward the end of 2026’s Sparkling Wine & Oyster Celebration, when the last oyster is gone and the sparkling wine has softened to its final fizz, the barn at Campovida quiets enough to hear winter wind moving through the rafters.—
Audrey T. Williams,
Mercury News,
23 Feb. 2026
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Add in ice cubes one at a time, and turn off the unit when the loud grinding quiets, after just a few seconds.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extinguishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguishes. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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