Synonyms of shipwreck

shipwreck 1 of 2

noun

ˈship-ˌrek 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wrecking
• wreck
• sinking
• shipwrecking
• wreckage
• stranding
• beaching
• foundering
• grounding
• scuttling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recovery
• salvage
• salvaging

2

as in disaster

something that has failed

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disaster
• catastrophe
• failure
• disappointment
• bust
• loser
• bomb
• fiasco
• washout
• flop
• debacle
• lemon
• miss
• frost
• clinker
• mess
• dud
• clunker
• turkey
• has-been
• fizzle
• bummer
• dog
• shambles
• also-ran
• botch
• hash
• near miss
• muddle
• nonevent
• nonstarter

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• success
• hit
• winner
• blockbuster
• smash
• phenomenon
• corker
• crackerjack
• dandy
• jim-dandy

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wreck
• scuttle
• beach
• strand
• founder

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• recover
• salvage

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of shipwreck

Noun

Vaccarrello not only attended the last Met Gala with the singer, but was also behind her dramatic black lace shipwreck look for the occasion. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 6 July 2026

The recovery follows the removal of black and brown rats that had accidentally arrived on the island as stowaways on ships and shipwrecks. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026

Verb

In 1543 several Portuguese were shipwrecked on the island of Tanega, off southern Kyushu. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026

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