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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Dive historic shipwrecks, sail past gorgeous rock formations, and wade in shimmering pools of clear blue water.
—AFAR Media, 23 May 2025
Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 Feb. 2025
The movie, the story of a robot shipwrecked on an island only inhabited by animals, includes a shot of San Francisco Bay and depicts the Golden Gate Bridge as submerged due to sea level rise.
—Zack Budryk, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Noun
The remains were identified as belonging to Henry Goodsell, a captain who died in an 1844 shipwreck off the coast of South Jersey's Brigantine Shoal.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025
Dive historic shipwrecks, sail past gorgeous rock formations, and wade in shimmering pools of clear blue water.
—AFAR Media, 23 May 2025
Verb
Another particularly gay episode sends Peter and his friends on a dangerous sailing expedition, only for them to get shipwrecked on Fire Island.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 Feb. 2025
The movie, the story of a robot shipwrecked on an island only inhabited by animals, includes a shot of San Francisco Bay and depicts the Golden Gate Bridge as submerged due to sea level rise.
—Zack Budryk, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shipwreck
Noun
-
Similarly, the market-resilience work performed by a lab at the University of California, Davis, offers solutions to farmers and agricultural communities that are vulnerable to intensifying weather disasters.—
Peter Slevin,
New Yorker,
9 June 2025
-
Federal database that tracked costly weather disasters no longer being updated How to prepare for an earthquake disaster Huge earthquakes have long been an existential crisis for millions along the West Coast, as described in a 2022 USA TODAY article.—
Terry Collins,
USA Today,
8 June 2025
Verb
-
During testimony, Lance Jimenez of the Los Angeles Fire Department recalled a 2012 incident in which an explosion wrecked a Porsche owned by Scott Mescudi, professionally known as Kid Cudi.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
-
Walls were wrecked by artillery blasts and gunfire.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
This is a classic Washington move — blame the private sector to cover for a government failure.—
Stacy Washington,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 June 2025
-
Yesterday, when asked about Musk’s criticism--which could sink the entire bill, if enough Senate Republicans like Ron Johnson and their constituents turn against it--the president chalked it up to sour grapes over the bill’s failure to extend EV tax credits.—
Kelly Evans,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share