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
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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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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
Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Yet unlike the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, where many wealthy and influential passengers lost their lives, the Valbanera tragedy did not capture the public’s imagination and soon seemed to be forgotten.
—Raul A. Reyes, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
That question from Gordon Lightfoot's haunting ballad about the sinking of Edmund Fitzgerald seems to also encapsulate the mystery surrounding the tragic disappearance of the freighter.
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
As the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking approaches, people across the Great Lakes region will gather to commemorate the occasion and remember the 29 men lost to Lake Superior on a stormy November night in 1975.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Just over 700 people — less than a third of the total number of crew and passengers — survived the sinking.
—Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The most common cause is underwater earthquakes that force the seafloor to move vertically, either rising or sinking, which displaces massive volumes of water.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Shackleton blamed the sinking of the Endurance on the destruction of its rudder; for more than a century, historians accepted this explanation.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Because the attack came at the end of the war, and the U-boat had not received orders of any surrender, the sinking of the Eagle was reported as an engineering and boiler failure rather than an escalatory attack from a foreign adversary.
—Leanna Renee Hieber, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025
Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Pelosi would remain influential within the Democratic party though, playing a key behind-the-scenes role in getting President Joe Biden to bow out of his sinking re-election bid, leading to the rapid nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee who lost to Trump a year ago.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
The weather is warm but not sweltering, hovering in the high 70s with little rain—perfect for snorkeling among the coral reefs of Andros, kayaking through the Exumas’ turquoise shallows, or simply sinking into a hammock with a book and beer in hand.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
If Ryan had drowned, his lungs would have filled with water, sinking him to the lake bottom.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Lauren Petracca | Bloomberg | Getty Images Payroll growth at private companies turned slightly stronger than expected in October, providing some hope that the labor market isn’t in danger of sinking, ADP reported Wednesday.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
With the Dodgers loading the bases, Varsho sprinted in on a sinking line drive.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Broader health insurance protections could prevent more Americans from sinking into debt and depressing their credit scores.
—CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Left East Tennessee without a degree after his part in that tragedy left him sinking.
—Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Edmund Fitzgerald's sinking was quick.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Yet unlike the sinking of the Titanic in 1912, where many wealthy and influential passengers lost their lives, the Valbanera tragedy did not capture the public’s imagination and soon seemed to be forgotten.
—Raul A. Reyes, NBC news, 5 Nov. 2025
That question from Gordon Lightfoot's haunting ballad about the sinking of Edmund Fitzgerald seems to also encapsulate the mystery surrounding the tragic disappearance of the freighter.
—Steven Martinez, jsonline.com, 4 Nov. 2025
As the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking approaches, people across the Great Lakes region will gather to commemorate the occasion and remember the 29 men lost to Lake Superior on a stormy November night in 1975.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Just over 700 people — less than a third of the total number of crew and passengers — survived the sinking.
—Pilar Arias, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2025
The most common cause is underwater earthquakes that force the seafloor to move vertically, either rising or sinking, which displaces massive volumes of water.
—Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025
Shackleton blamed the sinking of the Endurance on the destruction of its rudder; for more than a century, historians accepted this explanation.
—Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Because the attack came at the end of the war, and the U-boat had not received orders of any surrender, the sinking of the Eagle was reported as an engineering and boiler failure rather than an escalatory attack from a foreign adversary.
—Leanna Renee Hieber, Big Think, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
Five people are safe after the Coast Guard rescued them from a sinking sailboat hundreds of miles off the North Carolina coast Thursday.
—Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Pelosi would remain influential within the Democratic party though, playing a key behind-the-scenes role in getting President Joe Biden to bow out of his sinking re-election bid, leading to the rapid nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic nominee who lost to Trump a year ago.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2025
The weather is warm but not sweltering, hovering in the high 70s with little rain—perfect for snorkeling among the coral reefs of Andros, kayaking through the Exumas’ turquoise shallows, or simply sinking into a hammock with a book and beer in hand.
—Mark Ellwood, AFAR Media, 7 Nov. 2025
If Ryan had drowned, his lungs would have filled with water, sinking him to the lake bottom.
—Jamie Thompson, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025
Lauren Petracca | Bloomberg | Getty Images Payroll growth at private companies turned slightly stronger than expected in October, providing some hope that the labor market isn’t in danger of sinking, ADP reported Wednesday.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
With the Dodgers loading the bases, Varsho sprinted in on a sinking line drive.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
Broader health insurance protections could prevent more Americans from sinking into debt and depressing their credit scores.
—CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
Left East Tennessee without a degree after his part in that tragedy left him sinking.
—Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinking
Adjective
-
The film is an adaptation of the ghost novel What Happens At Night, which follows a married couple that travels to Europe to adopt a baby, staying in a cavernous, fading European hotel filled with eccentric characters.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Any major foundering in New Mexico could have long-lasting consequences.—
Elliot Haspel,
The Atlantic,
28 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
But with Nvidia’s shares having gained so much in recent months, a miss on Wednesday, or cautious guidance tied to China restrictions, could send the stock plummeting.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
26 Aug. 2025
-
Shedeur Sanders' draft stock plummeting didn't help, either.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the last 28 years, Alaska's rural school districts have made close to 1,800 requests to the state for money to maintain and repair deteriorating schools, but only 14% of those requests have been approved.—
Emily Schwing,
NPR,
10 Nov. 2025
-
Fiserv attributed its slowing growth to Argentina’s deteriorating economic environment, as the country last year contributed 10 percentage points to Fiserv’s 16% organic growth rate.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Elon Musk turned off many potential buyers of his Tesla cars and sent sales plunging with his foray into politics.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The space was stifling in the Louisiana heat, so fans were blowing for everyone inside.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Like the face-to-face collaboration benefits lost at GISS, employees fear shutting down Goddard's cafeteria will be stifling.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Arredondo allegedly stabbed Paulos 30 times before fleeing the scene and then vanishing altogether, police said.—
KC Baker,
PEOPLE,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Before vanishing from the historical record, Armijo submitted a confoundingly short report to the New Mexico governor.—
Mike Bezemek,
Outside,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Under the new terms of the license, Chevron was authorized to pay fees and royalties to Venezuela in oil but not in cash, effectively reducing Chevron’s crude exports from the country by half, according to Reuters.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
11 Nov. 2025
-
The initiative’s foundation addresses the problem of inconsistent and burdensome reporting by engaging the industry to define an optional (and non-exhaustive) questionnaire aimed at strengthening data quality and consistency while significantly reducing the administrative burden on suppliers.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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