shipwreck 1 of 2

Definition of shipwrecknext
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

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2

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
Pauley explains that the idea of creating a shipwreck was fun. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 26 May 2026 Keep an eye out for bald eagles above and shipwrecks below. Charles Usher, Midwest Living, 26 May 2026
Verb
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 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 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
  • The offense has been a disaster, the pitching staff has sustained some key injuries and the club has spent the first two months struggling to keep its head above water.
    Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 30 May 2026
  • The Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters maps and tracks every chemical disaster reported by the media on its website.
    Jason Henry, Oc Register, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • The kind of game-wrecking force that the Rams enjoyed playing behind during Aaron Donald’s tenure, and one the defense has missed since Donald’s retirement prior to the 2024 season.
    Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 2 June 2026
  • These two didn't get along great for a long period after Kyle wrecked Junior at Richmond.
    Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • So, when planning began for the Lincoln Memorial in the early 1910s, builders faced a real sinking problem.
    CBS News, CBS News, 31 May 2026
  • Lower flows mean less sediment flushing downstream, accelerating the sinking of the Louisiana delta.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 31 May 2026
Noun
  • Liaquat Ahamed has spent his career studying the moments when the world’s financial system breaks down — the bad bets, the collective delusions, and the geopolitical accidents that tip economies into catastrophe.
    Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 June 2026
  • Richards had begun privately doubting the timeline—traveling to Paris and London for modeling work, looking around, and noticing an absence of catastrophe.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 1 June 2026
Noun
  • Her son was cited for careless driving and failure to signal.
    Topher Sanders, ProPublica, 2 June 2026
  • Blue Origin should be able to identify the cause of the failure and get the rocket flying safely again.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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