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

Production also filmed at Sunnyside Beach, where video footage appeared to show shipwreck debris scattered along the shore, suggesting the location would be used for scenes of struggle. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 17 July 2026 Visit The Graveyard Of The Atlantic Museum Learn about the state’s most dramatic shipwreck stories at the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 July 2026

Verb

Over Your Dead Body follows a married couple whose relationship is beyond shipwrecked. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026 In 1543 several Portuguese were shipwrecked on the island of Tanega, off southern Kyushu. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 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

Verb

In ‘The Strange Architect,’ VanderMeer explores the legacy of Arthur Bream, a man whose dreams of building a utopian community are wrecked when his daughter goes missing.

— Brent Lang, Variety, 23 July 2026
The brutal heat and intense working conditions inside the kitchen and the front area of the business come after a thief wrecked the rooftop air conditioning unit in search of copper wiring.

— Seamus Bozeman Follow, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of wreck

Noun

The sinking has claimed at least two lives and prompted a multi-agency search and recovery operation in one of the Bay Area's busiest waterways.

— James Ward, USA Today, 18 July 2026
The body of a second victim was recovered Thursday following the sinking of a three-level yacht near Alcatraz Island and has been identified by San Francisco authorities as a Sacramento County resident.

— Michael McGough Updated July 16, Sacbee.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of sinking

Noun

For the second year in a row, this quiet Hill Country town is digging itself out of a catastrophe that has mercilessly taken a community trying to heal and set them back on the path of mourning.

— Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Every child identified before a catastrophe reminds us that statistics represent real people.

— Torie Bosch, STAT, 18 July 2026

Definition of catastrophe

Noun

The letter argues that openness prevents lock-in and that concentrating capability creates single points of failure.

— Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
For Luis Javier Santos, the former head of UFERCO who investigated the case against Hernández, the former leader’s return represents a failure to prosecute him for his crimes, rather than a chance for justice.

— ABC News, ABC News, 26 July 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 27 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of shipwreck

noun

verb

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