sinking 1 of 3

adjective

Definition of sinkingnext
as in fading

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sinking

2 of 3

noun

1
as in foundering

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2
as in plummeting

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sinking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of sink
1
as in deteriorating
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 plunging
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 stifling
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 vanishing
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 reducing
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 humiliating
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 falling
to lead or extend downward the road sinks abruptly after that curve

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8
as in weakening
to lose bodily strength or vigor the old woman only sunk further after she was moved to the nursing home

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Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinking
  1. deteriorating
  2. plunging
  3. stifling
  4. reducing
  5. falling
  6. crumbling
  7. dipping
  8. swallowing
Verb
  • Her body is deteriorating in front of us, and yet my daughter and her vet say, if (the dog) looks happy, leave her be.
    Joan Morris, The Mercury News, 30 Dec. 2024
  • With the relationship between the two companies deteriorating, Qualcomm may have to consider using another architecture before its ALA expires in 2033.
    Jim McGregor, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Netflix sensation returned on December 26 after more than three years, plunging Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) back into the world of deadly children’s games played by desperate adults competing for money.
    Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 27 Dec. 2024
  • The foxes then take a great leap into the air and dive nose-first, often plunging so deep into the whiteness that only their tail and hind legs stick out.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 27 Dec. 2024
Definition of plunging
Verb
  • However, a lack of autonomy growing up can strongly trigger the need for independence and reinforce negative attitudes about how future relationships may continue to be stifling.
    Mark Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
  • For a player who has always shown so much energy and joy on the court, searching for offense with this new roster has proven to be stifling.
    Jon Krawczynski, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of stifling
Verb
  • State governments, as well as drug manufacturers, provide financial help to the uninsured, often reducing the cost of PrEP medicines to zero.
    James K. Glassman, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Device lifecycle management and repair services will become increasingly important, reducing the amount of technology that ends up in landfills.
    Max Silber, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Definition of reducing
Verb
  • Clearly, this only constitutes a small blip as things stand and hardly a sign everything is falling apart.
    Simon Johnson, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024
  • The Sacramento Kings have made a major organizational move after their fourth straight loss falling them to a 13-18 record.
    Evan Sidery, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of falling
Verb
  • This stylish planter keeps plants well-watered and is virtually indestructible, designed to resist cracking and crumbling even in freezing temperatures.
    Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Since gaining public recognition in 2013, a spate of crumbling buildings in Ireland has been known as the mica crisis or scandal.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 Dec. 2024
Definition of crumbling
Verb
  • Anyone who was wrongly dipping into the OT kitty for themselves or others has to be found and exiled from the high command, if not fired outright.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Temperatures are dipping again in Alaska over the next six to 10 days, with far northern reaches of the state expecting below-average temperatures and near-normal temperatures forecast for much of the rest of the Last Frontier, according to a forecast from the NWS Climate Prediction Center.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of dipping
Verb
  • Kids older than one year can be given honey to help neutralize the damage, but swallowing a button battery is a life-threatening emergency for which parents should immediately seek medical care.
    Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Symptoms include general weakness, muscle weakness, dizziness, double-vision, abdominal tension, constipation, trouble with speaking or swallowing and difficulty in breathing.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of swallowing
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near sinking

sinkholes

sinking

sinking fund

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Cite this Entry

“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sinking

Nglish: Translation of sinking for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sinking for Arabic Speakers

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