1
as in deteriorated
to become worse or of less value
his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
This, after buyer demand had briefly sunk below year-ago levels.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 22 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
Sun had already, as of May, sunk $75 million into World Liberty Financial coins, $WFI.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 23 Apr. 2026
This, after buyer demand had briefly sunk below year-ago levels.
—Diana Olick, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Verb
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His mental health has severely deteriorated, his financial situation is terrible, and his drug dependency is at its worst.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
An old male Japanese macaque maintained alpha status as his ability to walk deteriorated, but only through an alliance with the alpha female.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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At its center is the story of a boy named Zac Brettler, who in November 2019, at the age of nineteen, plunged to his death from a balcony on the fifth floor of an upscale apartment complex a few minutes’ walk along the Thames from Tate Britain.—
Mark O’Connell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
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Milei’s popularity plummets amid corruption scandal in Argentina Argentinian President Javier Milei’s popularity plunged to a new low, as rising unemployment and a burgeoning corruption scandal threatened his ambitious economic program and prospects for reelection next year.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Early in the season, Johnson would have rather swallowed a Fiesta cascarone whole than play both of his inexperienced rookies at the same time.—
Jeff McDonald,
San Antonio Express-News,
25 Apr. 2026
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Near the lake that has swallowed Van Buren, someone has constructed an outlet called Heirloom Traditions Company Store.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The late Queen herself once recognized the positive effect Harry and Meghan could have across the Commonwealth—and supporters say their influence has not disappeared.—
Simon Perry,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
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Since the 1970s more than a third of the world’s wetlands have disappeared, largely due to climate change and urbanization, at a rate that is three times faster than forest loss.—
Paige Bruton,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But since the war began, traffic has been reduced to a trickle, with just 154 vessels recorded crossing in the entire month of March, according to Kpler data.—
Henrik Pettersson,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
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While there is no question that KU Med is at fault for failing to disinfect the heater-cooler devices, Johnson said, LivaNova should have ensured that the hospital was strictly following its instructions for use, which would have reduced the risk of bacteria spreading.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This Mets team, with the second-highest MLB payroll at $369 million, had just been humiliated by a franchise that lost 119 games a year ago.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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One such accusation resulted in a federal lawsuit filed in September in which the former head of the Colorado Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and DeafBlind alleged DHS management humiliated and discriminated against him before forcing him out of his job.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Isaacman must prod along Blue Origin, which has fallen behind in this billionaires’ race to space, and must keep SpaceX focused on the task at hand amid the noise of a record-breaking share sale.—
Thomas Black,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
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In recent months, USCIS has fallen more in line with other immigration enforcement branches at the Homeland Security Department, which have a focus on policing.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With time, with therapy, with growth, this thing has faded into the past, dissolved into other narratives.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Interest in the discussion faded later in James' career.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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