1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to plunge
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
I had just bought a bundle of shares of the stock when its price sank like a rock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stifle
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
sinks his pride and makes the first step towards a reconciliation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to disappear
to cease to be visible
that evening we sat on the beach, dreamily watching the sun sink beneath the horizon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to reduce
to diminish the price or value of
the slightest nick will sink the price of a piece of Tiffany glass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to humiliate
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the revelation that he has been embezzling for years definitely sinks him in my opinion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to fall
to lead or extend downward
the road sinks abruptly after that curve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to fade
to lose bodily strength or vigor
the old woman only sunk further after she was moved to the nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in dump
a place of great vice and corruption
was able to rise above the sink that was his birthplace
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 sink
Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The 2008 global financial crisis — which caused millions to be laid off and economies to sink into a recession — was in part triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis, in which, very simply put, people couldn’t pay for their mortgages.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Among the greatest dangers faced in coastal marshes is sinking.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
Fourteen Democrats voted for the measure, but McConnell and two other Republicans, Bob Bennett of Utah and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, voted no, essentially sinking the effort.
—Frederic J. Frommer, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sink
Verb
The bilateral drills in the Arabian Sea come after China, which has developed advanced weapons designed to sink enemy ships ships, deployed aircraft to conduct simulated missile attacks on a British warship off the country's coastline last month.
—Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
The 2008 global financial crisis — which caused millions to be laid off and economies to sink into a recession — was in part triggered by the subprime mortgage crisis, in which, very simply put, people couldn’t pay for their mortgages.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 17 Oct. 2025
Among the greatest dangers faced in coastal marshes is sinking.
—Mark Price, Charlotte Observer, 17 Oct. 2025
Fourteen Democrats voted for the measure, but McConnell and two other Republicans, Bob Bennett of Utah and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island, voted no, essentially sinking the effort.
—Frederic J. Frommer, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sink
Verb
-
Kabul wants to hedge against its deteriorating relationship with its former patron Islamabad, which accuses the Taliban of harboring a separate but allied group that has carried out deadly attacks inside Pakistan.—
Happymon Jacob,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Those delaminations deteriorated between dive 80 and dive 88, its final dive, resulting in a local buckling failure that led to the implosion.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Shares of both banks plunged by double digits on Thursday, while the broader regional banking industry suffered its worst single-day loss since April.—
Benzinga,
Freep.com,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The Starmer premiership has, in just 14 months, plunged to lower levels of support than any other government at mid term.—
Anand Menon,
Time,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Both wins have come thanks to a stifling run defense and, conversely, an explosive run offense furnished by the emergence of Rico Dowdle.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The Indians started to put together another seemingly productive drive until a fumble stifled the plans, and Lowell took over in Billerica territory.—
Erik Anderson,
Boston Herald,
18 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Thinning and disappearing sea ice also disrupts Arctic seals’ feeding habits and makes the Arctic more accessible to humans, which further increases the overall risk to these species.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Bystanders captured video showing the jet corkscrewing toward the ground, then disappearing behind homes before a large black plume of smoke appears.—
Pete Muntean,
CNN Money,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now, many employers are looking to harness the power of AI—initially for mundane and repetitive tasks and eventually for more complicated jobs—to reduce the need to maintain the same level of human staffers on their payrolls.—
Jason Del Rey,
Fortune,
15 Oct. 2025
-
And drivers can reduce the risk of their cars being hit.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
We were crushed, humiliated, and broken, after our city was destroyed, occupied and erased from existence.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Alarr’s unwelcome physical touching made Plaintiff feel offended, uncomfortable, humiliated and intimidated.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On a shotgun snap, a handoff slipped out of Bo Nix’s hands, the quarterback falling on it for a loss of four.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Our 10 favorite Amazon fall fashion staples start at just $10 right now.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After a disappointing domestic debut and meager turnout overseas, the sci-fi sequel is fading too fast to have any hope of recouping its $180 million production budget in theaters.—
J. Kim Murphy,
Variety,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Back in Guatemala City, as the light begins to fade from the skyline, the maquila workers emerge from their factories.—
Ladan Anoushfar,
CNN Money,
18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sink. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share