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
Sandra Sobieraj Westfall, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022
An additional 20 fans, about the size of small trucks, destined for Russia are sitting on her factory floor — a sunk cost of €350,000.
—New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022
Emily Brooks, The Hill, 8 Jan. 2026
An iceberg from Greenland sunk the Titanic in 1912, and 46 years later, another sunk a Danish vessel specifically designed to fend off ice, killing all 95 aboard.
—Paul Bierman, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Adjective
One of their best times was a day where their biggest haul was a bunch of sunk bushes near the shore, where all three of them managed to tangle their lines.
—Verb
The same three-year extension was sunk by upper-chamber Republicans in December.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Adjective
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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.—
Verb
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At the time, Denver’s Landmark Preservation office told the Denver Gazette that the old neon was too deteriorated to restore.—
-
The already-frosty relationship between Devers and the front office deteriorated to an irreparable level in May, when Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury.—
Verb
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Erdoğan changed course in 2023 and brought in new central-bank leadership who jacked interest rates to nearly 50 percent and plunged the country into a recession in a desperate effort to restore credibility.—
-
Shares have plunged more than 20% over the course of those two days.—
Verb
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The most famous, perhaps, was of lung cancer patient David Prueitt, who swallowed a supposedly lethal dose of medication and awoke three days later.—
-
Developed by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the pill can report when it has been swallowed.—
Verb
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Even worse for him, the cash ripped from his waist and disappeared into the darkness.—
-
Although multiple witnesses reported seeing a shark near where Fox disappeared, the coroner did not officially confirm a shark bite until Thursday.—
Verb
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While many areas are seeing visibility reduced to between one and three miles, patchy dense fog is reducing visibilities to as low as one quarter mile in spots.—
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Unable to turn back against the strong currents of the Napo, the party, now reduced to just 50, carried on downriver toward the Amazon.—
Verb
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She had never been arrested before and felt humiliated when her mugshot was plastered all over the news after her arrest.—
-
She was humiliated when her oldest son was forced to testify in a divorce case.—
Verb
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Oh, how the mighty have fallen.—
-
Like Remembrance Day, VE Day honors fallen soldiers.—
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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