extinguish

present singular third person extinguishes · participle present extinguishing · participle past extinguished · past extinguished

1. To end (something).
   1. transitiveTo stop (fire, etc.) from burning; also, to stop (light, etc.) from shining; to put out, to quench.

      Synonyms: douse, extinct, smother

   2. figurativelytransitiveTo eclipse or obscure (someone or something).

      A beauty that extinguishes all others by comparison

      1 more example

      The rays of the sun were extinguished by the thunder clouds.

   3. figurativelytransitiveTo kill (someone).

      Synonyms: extinct

   4. figurativelytransitiveTo put an end to (something) completely; to annihilate, to destroy.

      She extinguished all my hopes.

      2 more examples

      They intended to extinguish the enemy by force of numbers

      [T]he fauour of Princes and Magiſtrates noryſheth, augmenteth, and amplyfyeth all artes and ſciences by liberalitie, and extynguyſheth the ſame by miſerable couetouſnes and parcimonie.

      1561, Richard Eden, “To the Ryght Worshypfull Syr Wyllyam Garrerd Knyght, and Master Thomas Lodge, Aldermen of the Citie of London, and Gouernours of the Honorable Felowshyp or Societie, aswell of Certaine of the Nobilitie, as of Marchauntes Aduenturers, for the Discouery of Landes, Territories, Ilandes, and Seignories Vnknowen, and Not before Their First Aduenture or Enterprise by Seas or Nauigations Commonly Frequented: And to the Right Worshypfull the Consulles, Assistentes, and Comminaltie of the Same Societie, Richarde Eden Wyssheth Health and Prosperitie”, in Martin Cortes [i.e., Martín Cortés de Albacar], translated by Richard Eden, The Arte of Nauigation: Conteynyng a Compendious Description of the Sphere, with the Makyng of Certen Instrumentes and Rules for Nauigations: and Exemplified by Manye Demonstrations. […], London: […] Richard Jugge, […], →OCLC, signature [¶ iii], recto

      Synonyms: extinct, destroy, annihilate, aerosolize, atomize, benothing, bewreck, blot out

   5. figurativelytransitivehuman sciencesTo bring about the extinction of (a conditioned reflex).

      Many patients can extinguish their phobias after a few months of treatment.

      Synonyms: extinct, destroy, annihilate, aerosolize, atomize, benothing, bewreck, blot out

   6. figurativelytransitiveTo suppress (something, as feelings, a person's spirit, a state of affairs, etc.); to quench.

      Synonyms: extinct

   7. figurativelytransitivelawTo abolish or make void (a law, a legal right, etc.); also, to cancel (a creditor's claim, a licence, etc.).

      1668 December 19, James Dalrymple, “Mr. Alexander Seaton contra Menzies” in The Deciſions of the Lords of Council & Seſſion I (Edinburgh, 1683), page 575

      1 more example

      If the amnesty becomes law as expected this month or in June, it promises to extinguish the charges Puigdemont faces of disobedience and misuse of public funds.

      2024 May 11, Barney Jopson, “Catalonia separatist deal tested at ballot box”, in FT Weekend, London: The Financial Times Ltd., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 2

      Synonyms: extinct

2. intransitivereflexiveTo die out.