1
as in deteriorated
to become worse or of less value
his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business
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2
as in plunged
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 swallowed
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 disappeared
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 reduced
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 humiliated
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 fallen
to lead or extend downward
the road sinks abruptly after that curve
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8
as in faded
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 sunk
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The sunk cost fallacy, for example, can lead companies to continue investing in maintaining a physical office space, despite the benefits of remote work.
—Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023
Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
Akamai Technologies sunk more than 13%.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Adjective
With Aguirre’s plan, the efforts will become a sunk cost.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The sunk cost fallacy, for example, can lead companies to continue investing in maintaining a physical office space, despite the benefits of remote work.
—Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023
Verb
Snorkel in gin-clear waters among vibrant coral reefs and shipwrecks, including a former military vessel that was sunk to create an artificial reef.
—Asia London Palomba, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
Akamai Technologies sunk more than 13%.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Verb
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The lawsuit says the hospital did not tell his family that Hylton’s condition had deteriorated and that he had been transferred to the ICU without a doctor on-site.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2026
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All the while, his injuries mounted and personal life deteriorated.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The rial has plunged 8% against the dollar on the black market since the war started, according to the Economist.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Apr. 2026
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Minutes before, a six-minute communications blackout with mission controllers made for a nail-biting finish to the mission as the capsule plunged through Earth’s atmosphere.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Members of his cabinet swallowed their apprehension, ceding to their boss’s confidence, the Times reported.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
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The latter was accompanied by the most striking choreography of the night, as a mass of humans encircled and swallowed Reznor at the end of the song, inviting him to join them in their amorphous horde.—
Jeff Miller,
Rolling Stone,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 2024, any remaining pretense of saving energy disappeared.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Apr. 2026
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There’s a misconception that Bradham disappeared after the bankruptcies.—
Ryan Wilusz,
USA Today,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And Utah temporarily reduced its state fuel tax, but only by 6 cents on the gallon, bringing its state gas tax to 32 cents on the gallon for the remainder of 2026.—
Kathryn Watson,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
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Iran’s enrichment capabilities have been reduced by bombing this year and last.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tiger Woods is reportedly reeling after his latest DUI arrest, humiliated by the fallout.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
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The Rockies have been humiliated before in their first home game, but never as badly as this.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Rough waters Butler said in the Friday statement that Brian Hooker had fallen overboard the night he was arrested amid rough waters, causing an injury to his knee that has caused a limp and an abrasion.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
10 Apr. 2026
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The grand promises have fallen short, but there’s a thriving market for AI systems that leverage humans to close gaps.—
Solo Ceesay,
Rolling Stone,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The national spotlight that once fixed on Dearborn during the 2024 election has faded.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
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But the Heat faded down the stretch and lost last night in the NBA Play-In Tournament.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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