as in defunct
no longer existing
a few overgrown ruins are all that remain of that once mighty but now extinct civilization
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Recent Examples of extinct
Nearly extinct until recent revival efforts, this indigenous Cypriot variety produces a white wine that combines notes of white peach, quince and wildflowers with subtle spice and lively acidity.
—
Emily Cappiello,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Staghorn coral are in peril and were declared functionally extinct in Florida in 2025 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch.
—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Homo naledi is an extinct cousin of our species, Homo sapiens.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
24 June 2026
Baby monsters The researchers’ study focused mainly on embolomers, an extinct group of large predators that lived roughly 300 million years ago.
—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinct
Emily Cappiello,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Staghorn coral are in peril and were declared functionally extinct in Florida in 2025 by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch.
—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
28 June 2026
Homo naledi is an extinct cousin of our species, Homo sapiens.
—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
24 June 2026
Baby monsters The researchers’ study focused mainly on embolomers, an extinct group of large predators that lived roughly 300 million years ago.
—
Jacek Krywko,
ArsTechnica,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for extinct
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinct
Adjective
-
Syria has been without a parliament since the December 2024 offensive by insurgents led by al-Sharaa’s now defunct Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, which ended the Assad family’s five-decade dynasty.
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Prosecutors in 2017 charged him with six counts of embezzlement, grand theft, money laundering and misappropriation of public funds in connection with his time as CEO of the now-defunct Stockton Boys and Girls Club.
Adjective
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Suddenly, photos, videos, or important documents are just… gone.
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Room by room, the author takes us through the house, now long gone.
Adjective
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Customers can use their expired coupons until July 13.
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King recommends going through your refrigerator to throw away any expired or rotten food before cleaning the inside with soap and hot water.
Adjective
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The professors were bitter and angry—angry at a university, a state, and a country where their fields of study were regarded as obsolete, useful only for padding the schedules of STEM students or as a backstop for STEM burnouts.
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All devices will eventually become obsolete and be disposed of, but until such time, the connectivity models mean that almost all products are now IoT devices and require whole-life management.
Cite this Entry
“Extinct.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinct. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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