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
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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
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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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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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7
as in falling
to lead or extend downward
the road sinks abruptly after that curve
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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
Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 26 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
Land subsidence is the sinking or collapsing of surface land due to the removal of things such as underground water, oil or gas.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Rescuers found the first victim, the 12-year-old Spanish girl, three days later, floating near the northern waters of Serai island, fewer than a mile from the site of the sinking.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
More than a century after its sinking, is there really more to be said about the Titanic?
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Instead, bathymetric analysis suggested the sinking occurred in a local depression with a depth exceeding 100 meters.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Uncovering the boat’s past Before its sinking, the Hjortspring boat was nearly 20 meters (about 66 feet) long and could hold up to 24 men.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
In this recent image taken in early January 2026, the clouds above the Pacific Ocean are silhouetted in the golden light from the sinking sun.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Vega escaped the sinking vehicle, but Pintor wasn’t able to, the report says.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Mediazona has reported on the circumstances of the Moskva sinking extensively in the past, publishing testimonies from the families of sailors who were killed – and whose deaths were never officially acknowledged by the Russian military.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
This thinking was the inspiration behind one of Janes’s latest debuts—a featherweight complexion savior that suspends weightless spherical powders within a liquid serum base, while sinking almost instantly into skin.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Intel surpassed Wall Street’s expectations on both lines for the fourth quarter, but the chipmaker offered soft guidance for the current quarter which sent shares sinking 13% in overnight trading.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
Frager landed awkwardly on his left leg after sinking a layup in transition less than seven minutes into the game.
—Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
But across the rest of the quarter, the Bruins bruised their way back into control, closing with an 18-7 run that included graduate guard Charlisse Leger-Walker sinking a pair of 3-pointers in a 40-second span.
—Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Noun
The cause of the ferry sinking was not immediately clear and there will be an investigation, Dua said.
—Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 26 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
Land subsidence is the sinking or collapsing of surface land due to the removal of things such as underground water, oil or gas.
—Center Square, The Washington Examiner, 8 Jan. 2026
Rescuers found the first victim, the 12-year-old Spanish girl, three days later, floating near the northern waters of Serai island, fewer than a mile from the site of the sinking.
—CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
More than a century after its sinking, is there really more to be said about the Titanic?
—Benjamin Cannon, The Atlantic, 23 Dec. 2025
Instead, bathymetric analysis suggested the sinking occurred in a local depression with a depth exceeding 100 meters.
—Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Dec. 2025
Uncovering the boat’s past Before its sinking, the Hjortspring boat was nearly 20 meters (about 66 feet) long and could hold up to 24 men.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN Money, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
And despite sinking into an early 20-point deficit, the Bulls gave it to the Lakers in spurts throughout the fourth quarter.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
In this recent image taken in early January 2026, the clouds above the Pacific Ocean are silhouetted in the golden light from the sinking sun.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Vega escaped the sinking vehicle, but Pintor wasn’t able to, the report says.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Mediazona has reported on the circumstances of the Moskva sinking extensively in the past, publishing testimonies from the families of sailors who were killed – and whose deaths were never officially acknowledged by the Russian military.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 26 Jan. 2026
This thinking was the inspiration behind one of Janes’s latest debuts—a featherweight complexion savior that suspends weightless spherical powders within a liquid serum base, while sinking almost instantly into skin.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 23 Jan. 2026
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Intel surpassed Wall Street’s expectations on both lines for the fourth quarter, but the chipmaker offered soft guidance for the current quarter which sent shares sinking 13% in overnight trading.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 Jan. 2026
Frager landed awkwardly on his left leg after sinking a layup in transition less than seven minutes into the game.
—Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
But across the rest of the quarter, the Bruins bruised their way back into control, closing with an 18-7 run that included graduate guard Charlisse Leger-Walker sinking a pair of 3-pointers in a 40-second span.
—Benjamin Royer, Daily News, 22 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinking
Adjective
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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
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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
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Another 2024 study published in Biology found that adults who did strength training had a lower biological age—suggesting that their bodies were deteriorating more slowly than is typical for their chronological age.—
Jamie Friedlander Serrano,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
-
There are five other main characters with rapidly deteriorating lives that deserve our attention, but what is a recapper to do?—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In Nashville, high temperatures were to rise Wednesday just above freezing before plunging to 13 F overnight.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
In Nashville, Tennessee, where nearly 100,000 power outages lingered early Wednesday, high temperatures were to rise just above freezing before plunging to 13 Fahrenheit overnight.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Just two days after the Colorado Avalanche came into Detroit and rolled to a 5-0 win, the Red Wings returned the favor with a stifling defensive performance to win 2-0 in Denver.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
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Playing rival McCallum roughly 24 hours after the game was postponed from Friday night due to water issues at the Knights' campus, the Trojans used a stifling second-half defensive effort for a 46-35 win at Burger Center to take a two-game lead in the district standings.—
Colby Gordon,
Austin American Statesman,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Forced into 'impossible decisions' Sheila Brassel, a research director at Catalyst, said women's workforce participation has begun to lag because flexibility in the workplace is vanishing.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
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Miami-Dade County commissioners cleared the way Thursday for a heavy-equipment dealer to build a sprawling new headquarters outside the county’s Urban Development Boundary, which was put in place decades ago to protect vanishing wetlands and farms.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Supporters of the idea say a combined utility would be able to cut costs by reducing the number of employees.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
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The proposal also establishes more predictable timelines for preparing environmental impact statements, reducing delays and providing greater certainty for both developers and financing partners.—
Carlina Rivera,
New York Daily News,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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