shipwreck 1 of 2

Definition of shipwrecknext
1
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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2

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
Anglers can cast for dozens of fish species that inhabit the lake, while divers have scores of historic shipwrecks to explore. Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 But now, the company that owns salvage rights to the Titanic shipwreck wants to let go of—or, rather, auction—nearly 100 artifacts recovered in 1987. Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 7 May 2026
Verb
This reimagining of the classic tale of the white European male shipwrecked on a desert island is brave, funny, wild and spellbinding. The Know, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026 Your host, Miranda, offers a back story to the project that involves her family of scientists being shipwrecked on an island off South America upon which many of the dinosaurs somehow survived to the present day. Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 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
Noun
  • Boeing has reached confidential pre-trial settlements in most of the dozens of wrongful death lawsuits filed in connection with the Ethiopian Airlines disaster and a similar 737 Max crash five months earlier off the coast of Indonesia that together killed 346 people.
    Rio Yamat, Fortune, 15 May 2026
  • But the 48-year-old former San Francisco County supervisor’s solution — a single-payer-style public disaster insurance program — is poorly defined and presents an enormous risk for a state struggling with chronic deficits.
    Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 15 May 2026
Verb
  • The line was a wrecking crew that also managed to outscore the opposition.
    Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Bubba, by the way, was actually wrecked later in the race by John Hunter Nemechek.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
Noun
  • With a top altitude of 1,100 feet, this position at the highest point in the AVA offers warmer nighttime temperatures than the valley floor thanks to the warm air rising and cool air sinking, while daytime temperatures are lower than in areas closer to sea level.
    Mike DeSimone, Robb Report, 17 May 2026
  • After the sinking, Russian newspaper Kommersant reported the Ursa Major was carrying port cranes and hatches designed to cover the nuclear reactors of a new icebreaker being built in Vladivostok.
    Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 12 May 2026
Noun
  • For much the same reason, developers, architects and builders are starting to stress proactively designing for climate catastrophe.
    Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
  • Local elections in England are usually low-stakes affairs, but this year’s results proved to be a catastrophe for the Labour Party.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
Noun
  • The Virginia house of burgesses voted to thank him and the militia for their service, with the lawmakers attributing the defeat to the failure of the other colonies to come to Virginia’s aid.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
  • Rory McIlroy thinks back on three holes — his failure to birdie the par-5 ninth and the par-5 16th, and a big miss in his biggest moment.
    ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

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