extinctions

noun

plural of extinction
as in devastations
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

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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 extinctions The project supports countries that are trying to deliver Target 4 of the CBD Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for governments around the world to halt extinctions and improve the conservation status of endangered species. — Mya Copeland, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026 Environmental organizations have decried the change as a complete gutting that will rapidly accelerate extinctions, and have sued in federal court. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026 Instant extinctions are not limited to mechanical innovations like photography and cinematography, however. — Wyatt Williams, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026 Although the cartilaginous fish have survived the last five extinctions our planet has faces, more than a third of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction due to overfishing, habitat loss and climate change. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 While extinctions are always multi-faceted, the extermination of some species can be almost directly linked to the insatiable appetites of modern humans. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026 Our work, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society, recognizes that, while there are gaps in our knowledge of biodiversity loss, conservation has prevented many extinctions and allowed some once-declining species to flourish. — John L. Gittleman, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2026 The fossil record suggests these massive creatures disappeared during the sweeping extinctions that marked the end of the Pleistocene. — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 17 Mar. 2026 In a study of 926 species across climatic zones, 47% are undergoing local extinctions, just like the lizards. — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for extinctions
  1. losses
  2. demolitions
Noun
  • Mayer’s three professional defeats have now all come in England, following split-decision losses to Alycia Baumgardner in London in 2022 and Natasha Jonas in Liverpool in 2024.
    — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than immediately exposing maneuver forces to direct contact, Russian commanders typically first attempt to inflict sufficient losses on Ukrainian defenders to make the subsequent assault more manageable.
    — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of losses
Noun
  • Miami Beach today may be filled with newcomers, cranes and construction, deals and demolitions.
    — Vinod Sreeharsha, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The problem is that Chicago lost almost 12% of the rental units in those buildings between 2012 and 2023 due to deconversions to single-family homes, demolitions and other factors, while larger buildings account for most of the unit growth.
    — Adam Drakulic, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of demolitions

Browse Nearby Words

extinction
extinctions
extinguish
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Cite this Entry

“Extinctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/extinctions. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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