extinguished by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "extinguished by" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where something is put out, such as a fire or a feeling, often indicating that it has been ended or eliminated by a specific agent or action. Example: "The fire was extinguished by the quick response of the firefighters."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

That night's records repeatedly say "Extinguished by handpump" or "Extinguished by strangers with sand".

The Guardian

The fire was extinguished by 12 45, firefighters said.

The New York Times

Desire for others is not extinguished by marriage or cohabitation.

The Guardian - Opinion

But that dreamy moment was extinguished by the 1940's.

The New York Times - Arts

It cannot be extinguished by any means known to man.

The New Yorker

Leinster's hopes were extinguished by the third try.

The Guardian - Sport

They were finally extinguished by the Kara Koyunlu in 1432.

Encyclopedia Britannica

– the Olympic flame was extinguished by rioters last Wednesday.

The Guardian - Sport

Some were extinguished by crews using hand pumps and picks to isolate the hot spots.

The New York Times - Science

A fire broke out after the crash and was extinguished by airport firefighters.

The Guardian - Business

The Christmas night fire was extinguished by 12 45 a.m. on Tuesday, Xinhua said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "extinguished by", ensure that the agent or cause of the extinguishing is clearly identified to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The fire was extinguished by the firefighters" is clearer than "The fire was extinguished."

Common error

Avoid using "extinguished by" in contexts where a more nuanced verb would be appropriate. For instance, instead of "His passion was extinguished by criticism", consider "His passion was dampened by criticism" or "His passion waned due to criticism" to better convey the subtle change.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "extinguished by" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that an action (extinguishing) was performed on a subject by an agent. As Ludwig AI shows, this construction is used in contexts where the cause of the extinguishing is important.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "extinguished by" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to denote the action of something being put out or ended by a specific agent. As shown by Ludwig AI, this phrase appears most commonly in news, scientific, and encyclopedic contexts. When writing, ensure clarity by explicitly stating the agent doing the extinguishing. While "extinguished by" is generally suitable, consider alternatives like "put out by" or "ended by" for different nuances. Be mindful of abstract contexts, where other verbs might better convey subtle meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

put out by

Replaces "extinguished" with the more common phrasal verb "put out", maintaining a similar level of formality in most contexts.

ended by

A simpler and more direct alternative, suitable for most contexts.

terminated by

A more formal alternative, suggesting a definitive end to something.

suppressed by

Indicates a forceful ending or prevention, often used in contexts of control or authority.

smothered by

Suggests a more forceful or overwhelming suppression, often used metaphorically.

eradicated by

Indicates the complete removal or elimination of something, often something undesirable.

quelled by

Suggests the calming or subduing of something, often a riot or uprising.

stifled by

Implies suffocation or prevention of growth or development.

nullified by

Suggests rendering something invalid or without effect.

annihilated by

Suggests complete destruction or obliteration by a powerful force.

FAQs

How can I use "extinguished by" in a sentence?

Use "extinguished by" to describe something that has been put out or ended by an external force or agent. For example, "The fire was "extinguished by" the rain" or "His hopes were "extinguished by" the bad news."

What is a good alternative to "extinguished by"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "put out by", "suppressed by", or "ended by" to convey a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "the light was extinguished by the darkness"?

While grammatically correct, it is more common to say "the light was overcome by the darkness" or "the darkness extinguished the light". The original sentence implies a passive role for the light, which might not be the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "extinguished by" and "smothered by"?

"Extinguished by" generally means to put an end to something, while "smothered by" implies a more forceful or overwhelming suppression. For example, a fire is "extinguished by" water, but a feeling might be "smothered by" fear.