絶やす|たやすtayasu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto exterminate; to eradicate; to wipe out; to put an end to
    麻薬まやくの密売みつばいは根ねこそぎ絶たやさなければならない。↗
    We must eradicate the drug traffic, root and branch.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto let (fire) go out; to let die (e.g. flowers); to run out of
Conjugation
Dictionary form絶やす(たやす)
Polite (masu)絶やします(たやします)
Negative (nai)絶やさない(たやさない)
polite (masen)絶やしません(たやしません)
classical zu / nu絶やさず・絶やさぬ(たやさず・たやさぬ)
Past (ta)絶やした(たやした)
polite (mashita)絶やしました(たやしました)
Past negative (nakatta)絶やさなかった(たやさなかった)
polite (masen deshita)絶やしませんでした(たやしませんでした)
Te form絶やして(たやして)
Potential絶やせる(たやせる)
Passive絶やされる(たやされる)
Causative絶やさせる(たやさせる)
Causative passive絶やさせられる(たやさせられる)
Conditional (ba)絶やせば(たやせば)
tara絶やしたら(たやしたら)
Volitional絶やそう(たやそう)
polite (mashou)絶やしましょう(たやしましょう)
Imperative絶やせ(たやせ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive絶やすたやす⇄intransitive絶えるたえる
害虫がいちゅうを絶たやす
絶える is intransitive and marks what ceases or dies out with が, as in 血筋が絶える; 絶やす is transitive and marks what an agent eradicates with を, as in 害虫を絶やす.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym絶滅ぜつめつNeutralUsually intransitive: a species dies out completely, whatever the cause. 「絶やす」 means making something cease, as in 「笑顔を絶やさない」.
  • Synonym消すけすNeutralThe most all-purpose word: putting out flames, erasing, switching things off. 「絶やす」 is about letting something that has been going on come to an end.
  • SynonymなくすNeutralCovers losing something or getting rid of it. 「絶やす」 is about making something cease, often as 「絶やさない」.
  • Related取り除くとりのぞくNeutralFor removing something in the way. 「絶やす」 is about bringing something ongoing to an end, not clearing obstacles away.
  • Related除去じょきょWrittenWritten-style: clearing away obstructions or harmful matter. 「絶やす」 stresses wiping something out completely.
  • Related消去しょうきょWrittenWritten-style, for deleting text or data. 「絶やす」 is never used for deleting things.
  • Related除くのぞくNeutralMeans removing something or leaving it out. 「絶やす」 is about making something stop continuing altogether.
  • Related取り去るとりさるWrittenA written-style word for taking something away. 「絶やす」 is about making something cease or die out.
  • Related消除しょうじょWrittenA written word for deleting or eliminating, and not much used. 「絶やす」 is about making something cease.
  • Antonym増やすふやすNeutralThe antonym: to increase or add to, the opposite of making something cease.

Use 「絶やす」 for cutting something off or letting it die out, often in the negative: 「火を絶やさない」「笑顔を絶やさない」. For species dying out, say 「絶滅」; for removing something in the way, 「取り除く」; 「消す」 is the everyday word for putting out or switching off.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 絶たえるようにする。
  2. 無なくなったままにしておく。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

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