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

For Cline, Day Drinker will test whether her huge online following and all those fans who’ve spent the past six years watching her survive shipwrecks and shootouts on Netflix are ready to follow her onto dry land and into movie theaters. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 Archaeologists examining an ancient shipwreck recently revealed a trove of gold — and evidence that a wealthy and powerful passenger and his entourage may have been aboard. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 19 Aug. 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

In moments, the towers’ dazzling height had transformed from the proud punctuation of this country’s signature skyline into a disaster-movie nightmare.

— Culture Critic, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
The Bills finished the Toronto series with a 1-5 record, and the experiment was viewed as a disaster.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of disaster

Verb

Following instructions from the kidnappers (unbeknownst to his increasingly agitated comrades), Lee drives out to meet them for the exchange, only to wreck his car and become distracted saving a nearby woman, Hua (Moon Lee).

— Jake Cole, IndieWire, 10 Sep. 2026
The general public learned of the demolition plan only when the wrecking equipment began work nearly three months later.

— Dan Diamond, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of wreck

Noun

More than 1,000 people have been confirmed dead and thousands remain missing after the catastrophe, according to authorities in both countries.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026
As the story moves breathlessly through the neighborhood’s streets and interiors, Kodeih, who also edited the feature, and cinematographer Tony Kopec zero in on a jumpy, kinetic tension between looming catastrophe and potential triumph.

— Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

Their failure to receive one may be attributed to their having vague symptoms, such as a general feeling of malaise, weakness, or fluctuating muscle pain.

— Jerome Groopman, The New York Review of Books, 5 Sep. 2026
Compounding the issue was UM’s failure to get to the quarterback.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 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 13 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of shipwreck

noun

verb

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