SHIPWRECK Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

shipwreck 1 of 2

noun

ˈship-ˌrek

Definition of shipwreck

as in wrecking

the destruction or loss of a ship the shipwreck of much of the Spanish Armada ended Spain's plans for invading England

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in disaster

something that has failed finally admitted that their marriage was a shipwreck and that the time had come to bail out

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

shipwreck

2 of 2

verb

as in to wreck

to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking the yachtsman fell asleep at the wheel and shipwrecked his ketch on the rocks

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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 shipwreck

Noun

At least 84 people remained missing in one of the deadliest shipwrecks yet on the popular but perilous crossing from the Horn of Africa to the Arabian Peninsula, where many migrants seek work in rich Gulf nations. — Jamey Keaten, Arkansas Online, 12 Oct. 2026 Some of the migrants in the IOM center are aware that family members died during the shipwreck. — Jamey Keaten, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Verb

In 1623, Francis Bacon penned The New Atlantis, which recounts the rescue of sailors shipwrecked off of the eastern coast of South America. — Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 28 Apr. 2026 Over Your Dead Body follows a married couple whose relationship is beyond shipwrecked. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shipwreck

Recent Examples of Synonyms for shipwreck

Noun

At least, there was a lot less wrecking.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.

— The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026

Definition of wrecking

Noun

Faizi said ambulances and disaster management personnel arrived from a nearby facility within five minutes of being alerted.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026
For example, largely because of the environmental disaster that is Weikuang Dam, the country doesn’t permit the development or operation of stand-alone monazite mines—that is, mines where nothing is mined except monazite ore.

— Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of disaster

Noun

As Brolin’s character explains in one of the film’s flashbacks, a whale fall is the marine biology term used to describe the death and sinking of a whale, and the delicate ecological dance that ensues.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
Eleven sailors were missing at sea on Tuesday from a ship sunk by a drone attack off Bulgaria, possibly the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel in the area in a week, prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia’s ambassador.

— Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of sinking

Noun

In a 2024 interview with TIME, Netanyahu denied making the statement, insisting that the payments were meant to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Information and statistics are flying around, with some groups framing the AI data center boom as a potential environmental catastrophe, while others say concerns are overblown or even fake.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
Special-teams breakdowns — including a 70-yard kickoff return and two field-goal failures — played a big role in the Rams’ 37-34 overtime loss to Buffalo.

— Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of failure

Browse Nearby Words

ships (out)

shipwreck

shipwrecked

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“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of shipwreck

noun

verb

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