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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
The Morneaults have sunk $135,000 into readying the new store for business.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 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
Queen Seymour is on the run as a traitor, having literally sunk one palace, while Queen Howard practices spycraft right under her husband’s nose.
—Literary Hub, 1 June 2026
The Morneaults have sunk $135,000 into readying the new store for business.
—Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Adjective
-
His choices allow the viewer to drink in the intimate details of the ruined world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The bureau said in May that her condition had deteriorated and medical devices and medications were supporting her lung and kidney functions, AFP reported.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Prices have steadily climbed as the cattle herd shrank to its lowest levels in 75 years, while the prospects for rebuilding supplies have deteriorated in recent weeks.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Scene of a fatal crash and fire on Interstate Highway 280 after a vehicle plunged off the 18th Street overpass in San Francisco, June 12, 2026.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Severe storms and tornadoes that tore through the Midwest on June 11 left one person dead, downed trees and plunged thousands into darkness with power outages.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
12 June 2026
Verb
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Considering the associated thefts from libraries in this story, provenance—the history of the ownership of the item in question—may also get swallowed by all the hot money.—
Matthew Wills,
JSTOR Daily,
8 June 2026
-
Andy was unfamiliar with the sports world and worried that his son would get swallowed up in it.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Here was a man who answered the bell for nearly six years knowing that the audience had virtually disappeared because of a dispute with Comcast.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 June 2026
-
Around the time Leyden disappeared, officials said Marcelin was seen on surveillance video buying a saw and cleaning supplies at a Home Depot.—
Katie Houlis,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The Knicks are down by 23 points early in the second quarter, and are only shooting 33% from the field, and Madison Square Garden has been reduced to murmurs.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Language barriers may soon be greatly reduced, allowing for a historically impossible level of information sharing and growth.—
Jessica Melugin,
Mercury News,
10 June 2026
Verb
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In the ongoing fight for women’s equal rights, Pawol had proved a female baseball umpire can be second-guessed, proved wrong and humiliated by technology and mocked by howling fans on social media just like a man can.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 June 2026
-
Villanova humiliated UConn, winning 81-61, after building out a 31-point lead.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Ole Hansen, a commodities strategist at Saxo Bank, noted that stocks had now fallen roughly 90 million barrels from their recent high.—
Dara-Abasi Ita,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2026
-
Gas prices have fallen toward $4 per gallon in recent weeks, nearing the milestone as oil costs have eased in response to negotiations between the United States and Iran.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
13 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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