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
Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
With Aguirre’s plan, the efforts will become a sunk cost.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Tehran's state media denied that its boats had been sunk.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Adjective
The two aircraft lost at sea totaled more than $90 million of sunk equipment.
—Mike Brest, The Washington Examiner, 19 Jan. 2026
With Aguirre’s plan, the efforts will become a sunk cost.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
What happened with the Palisades fire is a finger-pointing blame game, and that is where public trust has sunk.
—Teresa Liu, Daily News, 4 May 2026
Tehran's state media denied that its boats had been sunk.
—Kevin Breuninger, CNBC, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Verb
-
Even the city emblem right in front of City Hall is deteriorated.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
Mohammadi, who has been imprisoned in Zanjan Prison in the northwest since her arrest in December, was transferred last Friday to a local hospital after her health sharply deteriorated.—
Connor Greene,
Time,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Halsey wore look 30 from Mishra’s spring 2024 couture collection, a blush-nude tulle gown with tiny beaded straps and a deep V that plunged to the waist.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 May 2026
-
On May 1, Chinese tariffs on imports from all 53 African countries with which China holds diplomatic relations plunged to zero.—
Steve H. Hanke,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
In our community, the individual is meant to be swallowed by the collective.—
Maria Giesbrecht,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
-
If swallowed, button cell or coin batteries can cause severe internal chemical burns, serious injuries and death, the agency said.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
In a separate attack, his brother was killed in front of him; two of his siblings have disappeared and are still missing.—
Annie Hylton,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
-
But as production costs rose and financing grew more risk-averse, those ambitious historical spectacles gradually disappeared from the big screen, replaced by smaller auteur dramas, comedies and internationally portable genre films.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Kentucky and Utah have reduced levies.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
In many ways, Kris aches to be reduced to such simple matter, to strip away all of her heady anxiety and surrender to basic want.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Those who don’t get the job leave diminished, sometimes humiliated, and the institution absorbs the damage quietly for years.—
Paul Hardart,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
-
Blue is officially fired for injecting a patient with an unapproved drug, and in a devastating twist, he is humiliated by and forced to give his badge back to Richard in front of Catherine (Debbie Allen).—
Max Gao,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Patlola testified that Resilience had fallen far short of paying required rent, and that Ramco is allowed to evict it.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
More than 100 people aboard a cruise ship that departed from Fort Lauderdale last month have fallen ill from norovirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
When the final notes faded, the audience erupted.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
13 May 2026
-
As the May 4 victory vibes in the Royals’ clubhouse faded toward facing the next day, Jac Caglianone stood in front of his locker in the dwindling room, processing the night and some last questions.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
13 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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