as in destruction
the state or fact of being rendered nonexistent, physically unsound, or useless
the state's population of moose has been replenished, having once been hunted almost to extinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of extinction
Gray wolves were hunted nearly to extinction throughout the U.S. West by the first half of the 20th century.
—
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
By 1889, after being hunted nearly to extinction, that number dropped to under 1,000.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
To talk of extinction struck many as a convenient way to distract from the existing biases, hallucinations, and other problems with AI.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2025
Humans face their biggest fight yet against extinction in season three of Invasion.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinction
Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2025
By 1889, after being hunted nearly to extinction, that number dropped to under 1,000.
—Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025
To talk of extinction struck many as a convenient way to distract from the existing biases, hallucinations, and other problems with AI.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 21 Aug. 2025
Humans face their biggest fight yet against extinction in season three of Invasion.
—Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for extinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinction
Noun
-
Critical wildlife habitat may be put at risk for alteration or wholesale destruction.—
Ryan Gellert,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But tenants have little legal footing to stand on in combating that destruction.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rosie O'Donnell recalled her devastation over how her friendship with Ellen DeGeneres fell apart more than 20 years ago.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Indeed, moves toward open Saudi diplomatic recognition of Israel were stopped by Hamas’ attack and the global backlash that followed Israel’s ongoing devastation of Gaza.—
David Mednicoff,
The Conversation,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While not all of the federal government’s tariff revenue is at risk, losing a huge chunk would still create havoc on the deficit and bond market.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Steve gently coaxes him back to school, where the film crew is causing havoc.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Nate Faanes, found the right lineup combinations in Saturday night’s loss, even without starting defensive linemen Jaylon Johnson and DJ Burgess, the latter being out for the season with an upper-body injury.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Florida Democrats, weakened by years of losses and fractured messaging, continue to face a shrinking electorate.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
There is nothing to choose between them, but there was a consistency, clinical edge and an abracadabra touch that made this performance the best Alcaraz has played in a major final, barring that 2024 demolition of Novak Djokovic on Centre Court.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Historic districts come with additional rules and regulations for renovations, construction and demolitions.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Yet this divide-and-conquer approach, combined with the relentless attacks on civilians, has also entrenched resistance among ordinary Gazans, who now perceive Israel as undertaking a war of extermination.—
Leila Seurat,
Foreign Affairs,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Palestinians and Israeli Jews also came to regard the other side’s actions as fulfillments of their own national nightmares, ethnic cleansing for one and extermination for the other.—
Hussein Agha,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Extinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinction. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share