as in fading
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1
1
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in plunging
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
I had just bought a bundle of shares of the stock when its price sank like a rock
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3
as in stifling
to refrain from openly showing or uttering
sinks his pride and makes the first step towards a reconciliation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in vanishing
to cease to be visible
that evening we sat on the beach, dreamily watching the sun sink beneath the horizon
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in reducing
to diminish the price or value of
the slightest nick will sink the price of a piece of Tiffany glass
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6
as in humiliating
to reduce to a lower standing in one's own eyes or in others' eyes
the revelation that he has been embezzling for years definitely sinks him in my opinion
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in falling
to lead or extend downward
the road sinks abruptly after that curve
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in weakening
to lose bodily strength or vigor
the old woman only sunk further after she was moved to the nursing home
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sinking
Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
Gravity didn’t cooperate enough on the five sinking, two-seam fastballs that got hammered up in the zone.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The sinking left eight people dead.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The video did not mention any specific orders, but the six were plainly referring to the sinking of Venezuelan ships in international waters topped off by the killing of survivors clinging to the wreckage of their vessel.
—James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the sinking.
—Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The sinking of the Titanic, which took place seventeen days after Scott’s death, gave her the idea for the one after that, Every Man for Himself (1996).
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In some simulations, the sinking began after 1 to 3 million years and reached the base of the shell after 5 to 10 million years.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Drummond compared the exodus of Bears fans in the fourth quarter to the sinking of the Titanic, which did not seem like hyperbole at the time.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
Investors were ready to pummel the stock after Figma saw a more than 80% tumble since an IPO last year that saw its price surge above $140 before sinking about $23.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Hubbard broke the school record for career three-pointers made by sinking four at Ole Miss.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
With fire pits on the beach, showers and a front-row view of the sun sinking into the Pacific, Mike and Nicole Wirth had no complaint about their $45 overnights at Dockweiler Beach.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Bo Kimble of Loyola Marymount sinking a free throw left-handed during an NCAA Tournament game in Long Beach in honor of his late friend, Hank Gathers.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Dorian McMillian had 20 points, sinking 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Tudor has bravely leapt aboard a sinking ship.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
And just as the questions are sinking into our souls, some mist starts to rise up from the floorboards of Tower 12 and turn itself into something like a human form, a specter, an apparition, a boy made real.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
Together, Kevin and the Bandits meet Napoleon Bonaparte and Robin Hood, and visit ancient Greece and the sinking of the Titanic.
—Danny Horn, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Feb. 2026
Gravity didn’t cooperate enough on the five sinking, two-seam fastballs that got hammered up in the zone.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The sinking left eight people dead.
—Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 16 Feb. 2026
The video did not mention any specific orders, but the six were plainly referring to the sinking of Venezuelan ships in international waters topped off by the killing of survivors clinging to the wreckage of their vessel.
—James D. Zirin, Washington Post, 3 Feb. 2026
The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the sinking.
—Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
The sinking of the Titanic, which took place seventeen days after Scott’s death, gave her the idea for the one after that, Every Man for Himself (1996).
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
In some simulations, the sinking began after 1 to 3 million years and reached the base of the shell after 5 to 10 million years.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Drummond compared the exodus of Bears fans in the fourth quarter to the sinking of the Titanic, which did not seem like hyperbole at the time.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 11 Jan. 2026
Verb
Also, sinking air tends to dry out, which can reduce cloudiness and allow more sunshine to reach the surface.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
Investors were ready to pummel the stock after Figma saw a more than 80% tumble since an IPO last year that saw its price surge above $140 before sinking about $23.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026
Hubbard broke the school record for career three-pointers made by sinking four at Ole Miss.
—Tom Murphy, Arkansas Online, 17 Feb. 2026
With fire pits on the beach, showers and a front-row view of the sun sinking into the Pacific, Mike and Nicole Wirth had no complaint about their $45 overnights at Dockweiler Beach.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Bo Kimble of Loyola Marymount sinking a free throw left-handed during an NCAA Tournament game in Long Beach in honor of his late friend, Hank Gathers.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 17 Feb. 2026
Dorian McMillian had 20 points, sinking 6 of 7 shots from 3-point range.
—ABC News, 16 Feb. 2026
Tudor has bravely leapt aboard a sinking ship.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
And just as the questions are sinking into our souls, some mist starts to rise up from the floorboards of Tower 12 and turn itself into something like a human form, a specter, an apparition, a boy made real.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinking
Adjective
-
Livaura Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that boosts cell turnover and collagen production, while fading wrinkles, fine lines, and reducing visible signs of aging like dullness, dark spots, and texture.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
18 Jan. 2026
-
Later classified AT2025ulz, the object displayed similar, fading red wavelengths as GW170817.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The process, known as lithospheric foundering, resembles a geological process on Earth in which portions of the planet's outermost layer sink into the mantle.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Any major foundering in New Mexico could have long-lasting consequences.—
Elliot Haspel,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The shutdown is part of a response by the government to ongoing protests against rising inflation and the value of the nation's currency plummeting.—
Berly McCoy,
NPR,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Successive polls have shown his approval rating on immigration plummeting.—
Richard Hall,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Officials said that the food security situation is deteriorating because of water shortages, insecurity, conflict and historically low levels of humanitarian assistance linked to global funding cuts.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Human rights groups in Senegal say that the situation for gay people in the country has been deteriorating since 2018, and that at least a dozen people have been arrested in recent weeks over allegations of homosexuality.—
Ope Adetayo,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Profit-taking began shortly thereafter, with the stock ultimately being among the hardest hit during the Covid crash, plunging below 10 before finally stabilizing.—
Frank Cappelleri,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The attacks have focused on energy targets throughout the war's fourth winter, plunging millions of Ukrainians into periodic darkness amid bitterly cold weather.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Gophers shot 57% in the first half and their stifling defense that allowed only 44 points in a win at Oregon earlier in the week held Rutgers to 36% shooting.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The Trojans eventually settled in on offense, but their stifling defense would have to lead the way throughout.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Las Culturistas cohost Bowen Yang, who recently departed SNL and has a thriving career in movies and TV, grows reflective at the thought of the traditional late-night format vanishing altogether—and with it the power to speak to a wide range of Americans all at once.—
Joy Press,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Stitt and Moore are the leaders of the National Governors Association, one of a vanishing few bipartisan institutions left in American politics.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once in place, this will allow staff to care for guests’ most delicate garments while reducing harmful emissions.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
The weapon can also fly more than 45 miles to strike mobile targets, reducing the amount of time that aircrews spend in harm’s way.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
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