Extinguish (verb)

Meaning & Definition of Extinguish

to bring to an end, make an end of
to reduce to silence or ineffectiveness
to cause to cease burning, quench

Extinguish (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to cause to cease burning

"the fire in the skillet was quickly extinguished by slamming the lid on"

similar: blanket, douse, put out, quench, snuff (out)

related: choke, smother, suffocate, blow out, rub out, snub (out), stamp (out), stub

opposite: fire, ignite, inflame, kindle, light
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"

similar: annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck

related: beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop, whip, win (against), blast, blow up, break, cripple, damage, deface, deteriorate, disfigure, disintegrate, dissolve, dynamite, harm, impair, injure, mangle, mar, mutilate, spoil, vitiate, erode, scour, sweep (away), wash out, wear (away), dilapidate, disassemble, dismantle, gut, take down, unbuild, undo, unmake, blot out, efface, eradicate, expunge, exterminate, extirpate, liquidate, obliterate, remove, root (out), snuff (out), stamp (out), wipe out, despoil, havoc, loot, pillage, plunder, ravage, sack, trample, trash, vandalize, assassinate, butcher, cut down, dispatch, execute, fell, kill, kill off, massacre, mow (down), murder, slaughter, slay, take out, zap

opposite: build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

near: doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp, create, invent, assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape, bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize, conserve, preserve, protect, save, rebuild, reconstruct, remodel, renovate, restore
to stop the noise or speech of

"her final, telling point extinguished her opponents on the city council"

similar: dumb, hush, mute, quell, quiet, quieten (chiefly British), settle, shush, shut up, silence, squelch, still

near: agitate, stir

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Extinguish

The most common words with a similar meaning to Extinguish:

Chiefly British: quieten

blanket, douse, put out, quench, snuff (out), annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish, desolate, destroy, devastate, do in, nuke, pull down, pulverize, raze, rub out, ruin, shatter, smash, tear down, total, vaporize, waste, wrack, wreck, dumb, hush, mute, quell, quiet, settle, shush, shut up, silence, squelch, still

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Extinguish

Words with the opposite meaning of Extinguish:

fire, ignite, inflame, kindle, light, build, construct, erect, put up, raise, rear, set up

Related Words for Extinguish

choke, smother, suffocate, blow out, snub (out), stamp (out), stub, beat, best, clobber, conquer, crush, defeat, drub, lick, master, overbear, overcome, overmatch, prevail (over), rout, scotch, skunk, subdue, surmount, thrash, trim, triumph (over), trounce, wallop

Near Antonyms of Extinguish

doctor, fix, mend, patch, recondition, repair, revamp, create, invent, assemble, fabricate, fashion, forge, form, frame, make, manufacture, mold, produce, shape, bring about, constitute, establish, father, found, institute, organize, conserve, preserve, protect

Word Forms of Extinguish

Inflections: extinguished, extinguishing, extinguishes

Derived words: extinguishable (adjective), extinguisher (noun), extinguishment (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Extinguish

Latin exstinguere (from ex- + stinguere to extinguish) + English -ish (as in abolish); akin to Latin instigare to incite stick

First known use: circa 1540

Frequently Asked Questions about Extinguish

What does "Extinguish" mean?

"Extinguish" means to bring to an end, make an end of. As a verb, it is defined as: to bring to an end, make an end of. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Extinguish"?

Other words for "Extinguish" include blanket, douse, put out, quench, snuff (out), annihilate, cream and decimate. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Extinguish" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Extinguish"?

There are 139 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Extinguish". Common alternatives include blanket, douse, put out, quench, snuff (out), annihilate, cream, decimate, demolish and desolate.

What is the opposite of "Extinguish"?

Antonyms of "Extinguish" include fire, ignite, inflame, kindle, light, build, construct and erect. Near antonyms include doctor, fix, mend and patch.

How do you use "Extinguish" in a sentence?

Examples of "Extinguish" in a sentence: "the fire in the skillet was quickly extinguished by slamming the lid on"; "a fatal blunder that extinguished all hope that the team would actually win the play-offs"; "her final, telling point extinguished her opponents on the city council".

Is "Extinguish" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Extinguish" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Extinguish"?

"Extinguish" is pronounced /ik-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish/ and divided into syllables as ex·tin·guish.

What is the origin of the word "Extinguish"?

"Extinguish" comes from Latin exstinguere (from ex- + stinguere to extinguish) + English -ish (as in abolish); akin to Latin instigare to incite stick. First known use: circa 1540.