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
Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
The Gulf has sunk billions of dollars into building AI infrastructure — touting access to swaths of land and huge quantities of cheap, clean energy — in hopes of becoming a global hub for AI.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 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
The only play ranked higher on the list came from pro golfer Tom Kim, who sunk a hole-in-one on Tiger Woods’ Jupiter Links team in the TGL — a simulated golf league.
—Greg Dudek, Boston Herald, 4 Mar. 2026
The Gulf has sunk billions of dollars into building AI infrastructure — touting access to swaths of land and huge quantities of cheap, clean energy — in hopes of becoming a global hub for AI.
—Rachyl Jones, semafor.com, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Adjective
-
Owner Jason Boso fixed that, infusing $2 million into the 10-year-old bar on better bathrooms, a covered section of the patio and a re-done kitchen.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas News,
3 Apr. 2023
Verb
-
Ties deteriorated after Canadian authorities alleged that India was involved in the killing of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver in June 2023.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The country’s overall box office has deteriorated sharply, with average weekly grosses falling to levels that have perplexed exhibitors and analysts alike.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Unity has plunged 59% so far in 2026, among the worst performances in Jefferies’ basket.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
1 Mar. 2026
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Sporting a red leotard with a neckline that plunged all the way down to her sternum, Jenner accented the one-piece with matching sheer tights and peep-toe heels.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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And, we may have been raised to care for and even be responsible for a sibling but be unable to prevent them from being swallowed up by their addictive or violent behavior.—
Geoffrey Greif,
Baltimore Sun,
28 Feb. 2026
-
There have been at least 38 reports of and reviews mentioning the bristle detaching from the brushes, Weber said, and four reports of people who swallowed the metal bristles and sough medical treatment to remove them from their throat or digestive tract.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
El Aissami, who had overseen Venezuela’s energy and economic portfolios, disappeared from public view in 2023 after being accused of corruption.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2026
-
But by adulthood, the gap had nearly disappeared.—
Lisa Jarvis,
Twin Cities,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Fires in the area and a federal immigration crackdown last year have reduced tourism, leaving his 12 buses carrying fewer passengers.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
-
That reduced alcohol spending is not due to price changes, but because consumption is falling, the report said.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Iran’s two major adversaries have thoroughly humiliated it; the regime was not able to hide its reclusive leader for even a few hours.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
1 Mar. 2026
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Most casual fans could spend their entire lives studying a library’s worth of chess theory, only to still be routinely humiliated by competitive players.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Although much of it hasn’t fallen as snow, California has seen above-average precipitation this winter.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Rosen acknowledged at a news conference Wednesday — his first since taking office in October — that his staff of prosecutors has fallen dramatically.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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