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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The sinking has damaged part of the Friant-Kern Canal, a major water conduit for farms, reducing its carrying capacity and requiring $326 million in repairs.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
More than 20 million people are living on ground sinking above a reservoir.
—Briana Alvarado, ABC News, 1 May 2026
By the time of its sinking, the cutter had completed multiple escort missions through dangerous waters.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Docents opened the building with its Titanic exhibit only to find the premises flooded on April 15, the 114th anniversary of the infamous ship’s sinking.
—Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In 1999, 81 years after the tragic sinking, the crew members of the Tampa were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Russia still lags well behind the West — and China — in overall ship numbers, and its navy has suffered serious setbacks in the Black Sea at the hands of Ukraine, including the sinking of the fleet’s flagship.
—Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
It's believed that Harbeck was hired by the White Star Line, the company operating the Titanic, to document her maiden voyage, but Harbeck was lost during the sinking and never able to corroborate the story.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Colorado spent six innings flailing away against Skenes before Mickey Moniak's sinking line-drive single to left-center with one out in the seventh.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
An excavator is sinking into the driveway’s mud.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026
That brings a sinking motion of winds over the Atlantic, which tends to suppress the chances for tropical storm formation.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Colorado spent six innings flailing away against Skenes before Mickey Moniak's sinking line-drive single to left-center with one out in the seventh.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Secure a tomato cage by sinking 6-foot-tall stakes 2 feet into the soil on either side of the tomato cage.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
So the ship isn’t sinking and Becht doesn’t feel concerned about a need to plug holes.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026
By the time totality begins, the sun will already be sinking toward the western horizon — around 10 degrees high in the northwest and dropping to just a few degrees in eastern regions.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 May 2026
Noun
This means buildings here are more prone to subsidence, or sinking, and differential foundation settlement, when different parts of the building’s foundation sink at different rates, both of which can cause major structural issues.
—Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 6 May 2026
The sinking has damaged part of the Friant-Kern Canal, a major water conduit for farms, reducing its carrying capacity and requiring $326 million in repairs.
—Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
More than 20 million people are living on ground sinking above a reservoir.
—Briana Alvarado, ABC News, 1 May 2026
By the time of its sinking, the cutter had completed multiple escort missions through dangerous waters.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2026
Docents opened the building with its Titanic exhibit only to find the premises flooded on April 15, the 114th anniversary of the infamous ship’s sinking.
—Gregory Harutunian, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
In 1999, 81 years after the tragic sinking, the crew members of the Tampa were posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Russia still lags well behind the West — and China — in overall ship numbers, and its navy has suffered serious setbacks in the Black Sea at the hands of Ukraine, including the sinking of the fleet’s flagship.
—Alan Crawford, Bloomberg, 20 Apr. 2026
It's believed that Harbeck was hired by the White Star Line, the company operating the Titanic, to document her maiden voyage, but Harbeck was lost during the sinking and never able to corroborate the story.
—Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
Seeking a diplomatic win to counter sinking domestic popularity amid the Iran conflict and inflation, Trump aims to secure Chinese purchases of American goods and establish trade frameworks.
—Aamer Madhani, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Colorado spent six innings flailing away against Skenes before Mickey Moniak's sinking line-drive single to left-center with one out in the seventh.
—CBS News, 13 May 2026
An excavator is sinking into the driveway’s mud.
—Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026
That brings a sinking motion of winds over the Atlantic, which tends to suppress the chances for tropical storm formation.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Colorado spent six innings flailing away against Skenes before Mickey Moniak's sinking line-drive single to left-center with one out in the seventh.
—ABC News, 12 May 2026
Secure a tomato cage by sinking 6-foot-tall stakes 2 feet into the soil on either side of the tomato cage.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2026
So the ship isn’t sinking and Becht doesn’t feel concerned about a need to plug holes.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 May 2026
By the time totality begins, the sun will already be sinking toward the western horizon — around 10 degrees high in the northwest and dropping to just a few degrees in eastern regions.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 6 May 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,
4 Apr. 2026
-
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
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
-
With enrollment plummeting and bloated staffing levels, the district is already on shaky financial footing and can’t sustain payroll without drawing down its reserves.—
Aaron Garth Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Chesapeake employs 344 before a collapse in natural gas prices sends its stock value plummeting.—
Steve Lackmeyer,
Oklahoman,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mohammadi’s family said her health had been deteriorating in prison, in part because she was heavily beaten during her arrest.—
Sarah el Deeb,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
In recent years, the island’s deteriorating infrastructure has been a backdrop for violence, neglect, and death; a federal judge has deemed its conditions unconstitutional.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Netflix is plunging deeper into the Harlan Coben business with a new series based on his Myron Bolitar novels.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
The actress and singer wore a plunging one-piece for the beachside photoshoot, which was captured by photographer Kat Irlin in South Caicos.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Birds eat and digest the seeds, then the plant grows in dense stands and blocks sunlight from reaching other young plants, overcrowding or stifling other species.—
Sarah Everett,
The Spruce,
11 May 2026
-
Before Sunday’s game, the Charge had struggled to generate a ton of offense in general against a stifling Boston defense.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Mann is presented as the Last Civilized Man of a vanishing era, whose words, spoken before audiences of officials, are lofty and inspiring.—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
14 May 2026
-
Despite the black-swan event of the Strait of Hormuz closing, wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe, a slowing US labor market and the vanishing likelihood of the Fed cutting rates this year, tech stocks are on a tear.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, facilities at public parks and libraries close at nightfall, greatly reducing the number of bathrooms available.—
Michael Perkins,
The Orlando Sentinel,
10 May 2026
-
In the surgical procedure, a v-shape of the lower lid is removed thereby shortening the area and reducing the defect.—
Dr. John De Jong,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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