variants
or sunk
1
as in deteriorated
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 fell
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 stifled
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 disappeared
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 reduced
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 humiliated
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 plunged
to lead or extend downward
the road sinks abruptly after that curve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in faded
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
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 sank
The study said the debris could have come from a foreign ship that sank—given the lack of information from the Russian side, who could say?
—
Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
As revenue sank, the economy collapsed amid soaring inflation.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
And the Conference Board’s latest survey revealed that consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since April in November, as assessments of both the business and labor markets sank, and the Expectations Index dropped further below the threshold that signals an upcoming recession.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Again, on the heels of September’s rate, short-term Treasury yields sank, but the 10-year yield soared back to its highest point in nearly a fortnight.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
But after spending nearly three decades sitting dormant in Philadelphia, the ship was sold to Okaloosa County in Florida, to be sunk and turned into an artificial reef.
—Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 19 Jan. 2026
As revenue sank, the economy collapsed amid soaring inflation.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 19 Jan. 2026
And the Conference Board’s latest survey revealed that consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since April in November, as assessments of both the business and labor markets sank, and the Expectations Index dropped further below the threshold that signals an upcoming recession.
—Hugh Cameron, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Again, on the heels of September’s rate, short-term Treasury yields sank, but the 10-year yield soared back to its highest point in nearly a fortnight.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
But after spending nearly three decades sitting dormant in Philadelphia, the ship was sold to Okaloosa County in Florida, to be sunk and turned into an artificial reef.
—Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sank
Verb
-
The leaders best positioned through each of these disruptions were not the ones calling us when the situation deteriorated, but those who had already built their structure during the quiet years.—
Dwayne Chauhan,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Over the course of the next hour, the weather deteriorated rapidly.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Firefighting crews worked Monday to cool residual heat and prevent hot spots from causing reignition, using chainsaws to fell and cut up hazardous trees, inspecting each section for heat and using hoses to extinguish any remaining embers.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
20 May 2026
-
The timbers came from trees felled by Cyclone Pam, the Category 5 storm that flattened much of Vanuatu in 2015.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
And while the state has seen strong GDP growth in recent months, business groups still worry that this economic success could be stifled by limited job growth and economic uncertainty in the wake of federal policy changes.—
P.R. Lockhart,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
-
Embarrassed in the first period, stifled in the second, the Avs did something that almost never happens in this town with this team.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
After it was announced in 2019 that the project’s release date had been moved to 2021, Sherlock Holmes 3 disappeared from the studio’s slate.—
Jack Smart,
PEOPLE,
20 May 2026
-
The 12-year search for answers has concluded for the family of Trukita Scott, a mother of two who suddenly disappeared in 2014.—
Joan Murray,
CBS News,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Bayard has a point in critiquing the attitude which maintains that engagement with literature can basically be reduced to an itinerary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 May 2026
-
The stadium typically operates at a capacity crowd of around 67,500 for NFL games, but that will be slightly reduced to approximately 65,827 for the World Cup.—
Elias Burke,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
You can be humiliated, and won’t that be awful?—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
19 May 2026
-
Those who don’t get the job leave diminished, sometimes humiliated, and the institution absorbs the damage quietly for years.—
Paul Hardart,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
The stock has plunged 54% from that time to May 15.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
-
Brent crude plunged nearly 11%.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
While Ingram faded, Barnes shone in the playoffs.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
That one afternoon’s momentary shame soon faded, but the belief that to be sick is a personal failure has much broader consequences.—
Tom Levenson,
Time,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sank. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
