1
as in choking
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 destroying
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
3
as in shushing
to stop the noise or speech of
her final, telling point extinguished her opponents on the city council
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of extinguishing
Firefighters then shifted to mop-up operations, extinguishing hotspots within the containment lines.
—
Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
The ensuing 11 pitches were all strikes to end the game, extinguishing the Dodgers’ hope and showing again how the Padres are doing this.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 May 2026
The police department thanked the Westminster Fire Department for quickly extinguishing the flames.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 12 May 2026
This year, participants took part in training courses focused on search and rescue, removing victims from under a subway car, extinguishing a propane fire, entering a burning building and more.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Such reins on an industry that has billed itself as capable of extinguishing humankind are, theoretically, in everyone’s interest.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
The cigar ashes were traced to Hilary Brooke Inman, 38, of Marion, who faces a misdemeanor charge of starting a woodland fire and not extinguishing it, state officials said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 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
The building's sprinkler system put out the majority of the flames before crews finished extinguishing them.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026
Sean Campbell, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2026
The ensuing 11 pitches were all strikes to end the game, extinguishing the Dodgers’ hope and showing again how the Padres are doing this.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 19 May 2026
The police department thanked the Westminster Fire Department for quickly extinguishing the flames.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 12 May 2026
This year, participants took part in training courses focused on search and rescue, removing victims from under a subway car, extinguishing a propane fire, entering a burning building and more.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026
Such reins on an industry that has billed itself as capable of extinguishing humankind are, theoretically, in everyone’s interest.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
The cigar ashes were traced to Hilary Brooke Inman, 38, of Marion, who faces a misdemeanor charge of starting a woodland fire and not extinguishing it, state officials said.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 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
The building's sprinkler system put out the majority of the flames before crews finished extinguishing them.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinguishing
Verb
-
He was also cuffed inside his Bronx home in 2024 after punching a family member in the face and choking them.—
Roni Jacobson,
New York Daily News,
16 June 2026
-
Those sharp fragments can cause choking, become lodged in the digestive tract, or even puncture the stomach or intestines.—
Kait Hanson,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
Verb
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Strikes and artillery fire were reported across Nabatieh district, destroying homes and residential buildings, according to NNA.—
Caitlin Danaher,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
-
One video shows a surface to air missile hitting a drone but not destroying it; the drone crashes to the ground and explodes.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Trae Young won Madison Square Garden’s undying enmity in the 2021 playoffs for the Atlanta Hawks, punctuating game-breaking shots by shushing the crowd or bowing to the fans and waving goodbye.—
Leah Asmelash,
CNN Money,
9 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
In particular, this energy could push away gas and dust that serves as the raw material for star formation, thus quenching star birth in galaxies.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
9 June 2026
-
The Bradenton Police Department shared adorable video that showed a parched manatee taking a break and quenching its thirst with some fresh water that was coming off a police boat.—
Steven Yablonski,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Indeed, many media observers—inside and outside the network—have gone so far as to suggest that demolishing the status quo seems to be central to Weiss’s mandate.—
Claire Zillman,
Fortune,
12 June 2026
-
In February 2024, police gave him and his wife minutes to pack before demolishing their home.—
Sam Mednick,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
The man seems intent on silencing David forever.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
18 June 2026
-
That protein keeps the seals between your gut cells closed by silencing the genes that would otherwise loosen them.—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The crowd spilled over to Le Bar, with its cerulean fabric swirls blanketing the ceiling, a nod to the hotel’s haute couture history.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2026
-
The fire spread to other trees and nearby brush, burning about half an acre and blanketing the area in smoke, according to KNN.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Historically, barrels of Madeira spent months crossing tropical oceans aboard ships, and merchants realized that the heat actually improved the wine rather than ruining it.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
The antics each week involved lovable Gilligan ruining a plan to get the gang rescued, but also ogling the bombshell Ginger (Tina Louise) and getting annoyed by Thurston Howell III (Jim Backus).—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extinguishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguishing. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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