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
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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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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
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Snow blankets the region A widespread snow event in March 2015 brought measurable snowfall across all of North Texas.—
Sergio Candido,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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If the infection is not contained by the body’s immune response, the bacteria destroys lung tissue which can trigger chest pain and coughing up of mucus or blood.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
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For individual cellular damage, your body either repairs it or destroys the cell and replaces it.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Physical bullying happens when a child hits, kicks, trips, pushes, chokes or otherwise hurts another child.—
Dr. Mahvash Madni,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Left to die, breathless and alone, Invisigal chokes while Robert screams from the other end of the comms.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
7 Nov. 2025
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
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If the city demolishes the building, the costs will be assessed to the property owner.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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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
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In Cuba, where vibrant streets hide daily struggles, the government silences its people and spreads trouble worldwide.—
Markus Wiechel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Think of the 5-3-1 rule like a beauty treatment for the soul, rehydrating bonds like a hyaluronic acid serum quenches thirsty skin.—
Vogue,
Vogue,
27 Nov. 2025
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Others of you may explore signing up for a new class or simply become fully invested in a good podcast that quenches your curiosity.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
21 Nov. 2025
Verb
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One agent opens the back-seat door as the car begins to move; another shatters her passenger-side window.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
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The Bradford pear shatters easily at the trunk due to the branch angles, Zampini says.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Safety Kam Curl, whose interception in overtime against the Bears set up the game-winning field goal, noted that the crowd in Seattle quiets when the Seahawks offense is on the field.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Jan. 2026
-
With regular doses of morphine, the doctor quiets the alpha’s aggressive impulses.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Extinguishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinguishes. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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