Quench
What it means
To satisfy a thirst or bring heat, fire, or strong desire to an end.
Reach for it when describing complete relief or extinguishing rather than mild reduction
Cold spring water quenched their thirst after the steep ascent.
Words to choose between 7
| everyday | |
|---|---|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
-
everyday
Fits when temperature rather than elimination matters
Careful Cooling does not necessarily quench combustion.
-
everyday
douse
Fits when liquid is thrown over flames
Careful Douse names the method, not assured success.
-
everyday
Fits when a need or desire is fully met
Careful Satisfy does not evoke thirst or flame.
-
warm
Fits when discomfort is eased without drama
Careful Relieve may mean only partial improvement.
-
professional
extinguish
Fits when a fire is put out completely
Careful Extinguish cannot naturally describe ordinary thirst.
-
formal
appease
Fits when an appetite or demand is temporarily met
Careful Appease can imply troublesome pressure.
-
literary
slake
Fits when thirst receives deliberate vivid emphasis
Careful Slake sounds archaic in routine instructions.
Opposites 3
- ignite
- kindle
- intensify
Common phrases 3
-
quench thirst
Slices of melon helped quench thirst during the harvest.
-
quench a fire
The sprinkler quenched a fire in the storage room.
-
quench curiosity
The short answer did not quench her curiosity.
Word family 1
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated