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
Malika Bowling, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Last year, a Florida man stumbled upon a shipwreck believed to date back 150 years.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Mar. 2026
Get shipwrecked on a Robinson Crusoe beach with a picnic of yellowfin ceviche?
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Noun
Yet travelers who only know these waters from shoreline cities often miss their quieter side, where shipwrecks rest beneath clear depths, small ports wake to foghorns and science teams study a living ecosystem in real time.
—Malika Bowling, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Last year, a Florida man stumbled upon a shipwreck believed to date back 150 years.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
Get shipwrecked on a Robinson Crusoe beach with a picnic of yellowfin ceviche?
—Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 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
-
In the aftermath of the BAFTA Film Awards, the BBC created a new set of protocols, which now need to be unleashed without a hitch as the public broadcaster bids to avoid a repeat of the disaster.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
-
The United Nations estimates that, all told, thousands of people have died or will die as a result of the disaster.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Police found Berry’s vehicle, along with personal items inside, wrecked in the driveway – but Berry was not at the home, the warrant says.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
-
The Bills will head into the season without a true, identifiable game-wrecking defensive player on the roster.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
This means buildings here are more prone to subsidence, or sinking, and differential foundation settlement, when different parts of the building’s foundation sink at different rates, both of which can cause major structural issues.—
Catherine Odom,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
The sinking has damaged part of the Friant-Kern Canal, a major water conduit for farms, reducing its carrying capacity and requiring $326 million in repairs.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
When Danh was initially hospitalized overseas on April 9, doctors diagnosed her with acute liver failure, among other serious health issues.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Despite these obvious failures, many still call for the rich to pay more taxes.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
