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
CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
The sinking killed at least 87 sailors.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
The sinking comes amid rising tensions in the region as air strikes and military actions continue between Iran, Israel, and allied forces.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Some observers Thursday were pointing to parallels between the sinking of the Dena and Britain’s destruction of the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War in 1982.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned the government’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so close to India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official statement.
—Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
There’s the Iroquois Theatre fire and the sinking of the Eastland.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
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
Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
The purposeful kicks counter her body’s buoyancy, bringing her down to about 30 feet, then to neutral buoyancy for 10 more feet, and, finally, to negative buoyancy—or freefall, sinking—below 50 to 60 feet.
—Stella Fong, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Stock markets worldwide are sinking on worries about whether the global economy can withstand spiking prices for oil, which briefly got to nearly $120 per barrel on Monday.
—Matt Ott, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Koree Cotton totaled 18 points and five assists, sinking four 3-pointers.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Imagine stepping onto a quiet stretch of sand, your toes sinking into sugar-white powder, waves lapping gently at the shore, and sunlight sparkling across the turquoise Gulf waters.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Kornet bounced from team to team and nearly out of the league, desperate to recover the sense of satisfaction that came from sinking shot after shot.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The physical 5-foot-10 guard continually attacked the basket and scored a game-high 44 points, including sinking 14 of 19 free throws.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Threats to the flow of oil are already sinking stock markets and stoking fears of high inflation.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026
Noun
The Coast Guard and Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating the sinking of the Yankee Rose.
—CBS News, 7 Mar. 2026
The sinking killed at least 87 sailors.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
The sinking comes amid rising tensions in the region as air strikes and military actions continue between Iran, Israel, and allied forces.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Mar. 2026
Some observers Thursday were pointing to parallels between the sinking of the Dena and Britain’s destruction of the Argentine cruiser ARA General Belgrano during the Falklands War in 1982.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
The first sinking of an enemy ship by a torpedo since World War II.
—Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Indian opposition leaders, however, on Thursday questioned the government’s lack of response to the incident, saying the sinking of the warship so close to India’s maritime neighborhood warranted an official statement.
—Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
There’s the Iroquois Theatre fire and the sinking of the Eastland.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
Here's a closer look at the court’s sinking poll numbers.
—Marissa Martinez, NBC news, 11 Mar. 2026
The purposeful kicks counter her body’s buoyancy, bringing her down to about 30 feet, then to neutral buoyancy for 10 more feet, and, finally, to negative buoyancy—or freefall, sinking—below 50 to 60 feet.
—Stella Fong, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Stock markets worldwide are sinking on worries about whether the global economy can withstand spiking prices for oil, which briefly got to nearly $120 per barrel on Monday.
—Matt Ott, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2026
Koree Cotton totaled 18 points and five assists, sinking four 3-pointers.
—ABC News, 9 Mar. 2026
Imagine stepping onto a quiet stretch of sand, your toes sinking into sugar-white powder, waves lapping gently at the shore, and sunlight sparkling across the turquoise Gulf waters.
—Carrie Honaker, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2026
Kornet bounced from team to team and nearly out of the league, desperate to recover the sense of satisfaction that came from sinking shot after shot.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
The physical 5-foot-10 guard continually attacked the basket and scored a game-high 44 points, including sinking 14 of 19 free throws.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
Threats to the flow of oil are already sinking stock markets and stoking fears of high inflation.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinking
Adjective
-
Thus, the wrecking ball came for the Purple Passion Pit and the rest of the complex, a monument to a fading but wonderfully hospitable era of Chicago entertainment and local entrepreneurship.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Feb. 2026
-
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
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
-
Chesapeake employs 344 before a collapse in natural gas prices sends its stock value plummeting.—
Steve Lackmeyer,
Oklahoman,
25 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The two-time Oscar winner captures Garland in showstopper mode and, with spine curved and cigarette in hand, deftly communicates Garland's deteriorating state and the toll of her struggles with addiction.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Ollongren also warned of the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East and the war’s adverse effects on human rights in Iran and the broader region.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At the waist − and the base of a plunging neckline − is a constellation of orange, pink and deep purple jewels.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Oil had suddenly skyrocketed to just shy of $120 a barrel and stock futures were plunging as the war raged in the Middle East.—
Denitsa Tsekova,
Bloomberg,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But waning financial support, due in part to a animal rights group targeting national sponsors, has shrunk the purse while inflation is stifling young mushers trying to make a go of it.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
With no discernable reason beyond intimidation, Hasner approved this staggering waste of taxpayer funds, stifling the First Amendment right of peaceable assembly.—
Karen J. Leader,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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All around the skiff, pink river dolphins pop up for air, their taut blush bodies arcing briefly before vanishing with barely a splash.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
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In a time when headlines about the natural world often carry a heavy sense of loss — vanishing species, shrinking habitats — this discovery offers something different.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The departments of Commerce, Housing and Urban Development and Transportation, along with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, are instructed to eliminate regulations and update programs that are reducing residential development.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
But the practical effect also meant that the entire second floor of the hotel was turned over to the pope, reducing its capacity for paying guests.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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