as in disasters
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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Recent Examples of shipwrecks
Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Keep an eye out for bald eagles above and shipwrecks below.
—Charles Usher, Midwest Living, 26 May 2026
The latest trip was spurred by an underwater interview project proposed by Stanford University anthropologist Ayana Omilade Flewellen, who serves on the board of Diving With a Purpose, a Black scuba diving nonprofit dedicated to documenting slave shipwrecks.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Participants report profound emotional and spiritual connections during underwater visits and ancient libation ceremonies, as part of broader efforts to document slave shipwrecks and preserve Black history.
—Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Researchers have found remains of the sailors, as well as artifacts from the shipwrecks.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
The actual shipwrecks of the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror were not found until 2014 and 2016, respectively.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Anglers can cast for dozens of fish species that inhabit the lake, while divers have scores of historic shipwrecks to explore.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
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
Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Noun
Fairies and gods and shipwrecks all conspire to put our players in the most exigent but also the most amusing circumstances.
—Literary Hub, 2 June 2026
Keep an eye out for bald eagles above and shipwrecks below.
—Charles Usher, Midwest Living, 26 May 2026
The latest trip was spurred by an underwater interview project proposed by Stanford University anthropologist Ayana Omilade Flewellen, who serves on the board of Diving With a Purpose, a Black scuba diving nonprofit dedicated to documenting slave shipwrecks.
—ABC News, 14 May 2026
Participants report profound emotional and spiritual connections during underwater visits and ancient libation ceremonies, as part of broader efforts to document slave shipwrecks and preserve Black history.
—Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
Researchers have found remains of the sailors, as well as artifacts from the shipwrecks.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 14 May 2026
The actual shipwrecks of the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror were not found until 2014 and 2016, respectively.
—ArsTechnica, 8 May 2026
Anglers can cast for dozens of fish species that inhabit the lake, while divers have scores of historic shipwrecks to explore.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
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
Verb
In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, young boys gradually become feral and sadistic when trapped on an island together, and in Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Prospero magically shipwrecks his brother and his allies so that they will all be exiled together under his watch.
—Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shipwrecks
Noun
-
Andrés described how World Central Kitchen, which provides meals to communities impacted by disasters, brings food and water quickly in emergencies through on-the-ground aid.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
Get ready for disasters and how to help Listos Training begins on June 13, offering a full day of training that can prepare you and your family for disasters and emergencies.—
Andrea Manes,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Kyle Busch wrecks Ron Hornaday under caution!—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The change launches biannual arguments about the practice, wrecks havoc on sleep and has inspired voters to go to California polls.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Vallejo’s Broadway Project finished years late and massively over budget after contractor failures and internal disputes.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
But most of its failures are subtler, more insidious.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Then there were climate catastrophes like Hurricane Katrina, the normalization of active shooter drills at their schools and a worldwide pandemic.—
Lisa Respers France,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
The California manufacture has unveiled a beastly off-roader that can be kitted out to protect you from any pending world-wide catastrophes.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
That’s been one of the main disappointments of this season.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
Her compelling personal perspective on 40-plus years of post-Revolutionary Iran provides a chronicle of great hopes and even greater disappointments.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Shipwrecks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwrecks. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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