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
Fairies and gods and shipwrecks all conspire to put our players in the most exigent but also the most amusing circumstances. Literary Hub, 2 June 2026 Leonardo DiCaprio First, Leonardo DiCaprio starred in a movie about a famous shipwreck with James Cameron’s 1997 epic Titanic. Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 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
  • When a catastrophic breach at Piney Point threatened Manatee County homes with a toxic flood and fueled an environmental disaster five years ago, state leaders promised to clean up the mess with up to $200 million.
    Ryan Ballogg, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
  • Not allowing insurance companies to shift profits to out-of-state subsidiaries would save me more money than this disaster.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • The six jurors in George Pino’s vessel-homicide and manslaughter trial took a road trip to North Miami on Thursday morning to view his boat, which was wrecked in the crash that killed a teenage girl and severely injured two others.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
  • Common errors like picking the wrong rug size, furniture layout, color palette, window treatments, and more can wreck your home decor.
    Kristin Hohenadel, The Spruce, 10 June 2026
Noun
  • Actual sinking exercises provide valuable data on structural damage, flooding, shock effects, and sinking behaviour.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 14 June 2026
  • So, when planning began for the Lincoln Memorial in the early 1910s, builders faced a real sinking problem.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Horrible things happen all the time, crises and catastrophes that defy language and imagination.
    Karen Valby, Vanity Fair, 16 June 2026
  • But if your concerned friend starts worrying about AI data centers literally causing a worldwide water catastrophe, the actual numbers involved should hopefully put those worries to rest.
    Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 12 June 2026
Noun
  • Laredo International Airport Director Gilberto Sanchez also told CNN affiliate KGNS the aircraft experienced a mechanical failure before crashing.
    Diego Mendoza, CNN Money, 17 June 2026
  • After years of abject failures, underachievement or agonising near-misses, Tuchel was hired to end England’s wait for a major international men’s trophy, which now extends to 60 years.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 16 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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