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
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
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The Downfall and Freefall documentaries argue that Boeing’s company culture deteriorated as company execs prioritized profits and a rising share price over safety.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
19 June 2026
-
By 2024, his health had deteriorated to the point of requiring continuous oxygen, leading to his evaluation for a groundbreaking dual-organ transplant under the HOPE Act.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
19 June 2026
Verb
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The importance of that relationship became clear in 2025, when live cattle imports plunged by more than 50%.—
Andrew Muhammad,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
-
Oil stockpiles at the critical oil hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, have plunged to the bare minimum of what is needed to operate.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
19 June 2026
Verb
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In 2013, a 100-foot-wide sinkhole swallowed entire multi-story residential buildings at Summer Bay Resort in Clermont.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2026
-
The night started with a guarantee, got swallowed by 3-pointers, turned sour at the whistle and somehow ended with the Garden shaking beneath a celebration nobody saw coming.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
11 June 2026
Verb
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The discovery came following a six-day search for Elena Katherine Moore, 39, a personal trainer who officials said disappeared Thursday evening after leaving a Planet Fitness gym in Lexington.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
-
Yet as the flames consumed the duplex at 14th Street and Jones on a sunny Sunday afternoon earlier this month, and seemingly half the island showed up to console and help the residents, Walker disappeared.—
Adam Van Brimmer,
AJC.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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In March, Tyler pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal that reduced his first-degree rape charge to a third-degree offense.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
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The only exception came during the COVID years, when the schedule was temporarily reduced.—
Amber Harding OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2026
Verb
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There’s the stepover loved by the two Ronaldos (Cristiano and Nazario, the original from Brazil), the two-touch turn that took off on a video game, and the hocus pocus skill that humiliated one Brazil legend and earned another a free meal.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Bryan’s stumbling responses, under questioning from the legendary defense lawyer Clarence Darrow, left him humiliated.—
Michael Luo,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Overall homicides in the United States have fallen for four consecutive years, according to FBI data analyzed by the Washington Post.—
Sara-James Ranta,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 June 2026
-
Over the past decade, the economy has fallen, leading to far-reaching economic reforms by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 22 Jun. 2026.
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