1
as in deteriorating
to become worse or of less value
his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in vanishing
to cease to be visible
that evening we sat on the beach, dreamily watching the sun sink beneath the horizon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in reducing
to diminish the price or value of
the slightest nick will sink the price of a piece of Tiffany glass
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in falling
to lead or extend downward
the road sinks abruptly after that curve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in weakening
to lose bodily strength or vigor
the old woman only sunk further after she was moved to the nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in fading
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of sinking
Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Research published in 2008 links the seismic activity to a slab of oceanic crust sinking into Earth’s mantle.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
In 2012, on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, Ballard announced a museum exhibit in Connecticut about the disaster.
—David Chiu, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The swim began July 26 at the spot in the water where the freighter’s journey ended, 17 miles northwest of the Whitefish Point lighthouse, which in fatal happenstance was inoperable the night of the ship’s sinking.
—John Carlisle, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
And the eventual sinking came with the promise of a museum to commemorate the American legend.
—Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
George Rose/Getty Images Properties on land that have experienced the most dramatic sinking suffered bigger home value losses, researchers found.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Erica Mosca, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Dramatic video shows a brand-new luxury yacht sinking just minutes after it was launched off the coast of Turkey, forcing its crew to leap overboard.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
John [Carter] sinking holding his recorder.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
The resort’s coastal location provides many perfect spots to see the sun sinking into the Pacific each evening (preferably with a cocktail or a glass of wine in hand).
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
The sun was sinking low over Tahoe’s California.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside, 2 Sep. 2025
This discovery suggests a much more active early Earth, but this tectonic activity was still unstable, with crust sinking down not in a continuous motion, but in pulses, stopping for millions of years and then resuming activity.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
As in his previous films, a clanking, rattling soundscape constructed entirely in post is an artisanal marvel, immersing viewers both in the perilous metallic din of a maybe-sinking ship, and the comforting artifice of analog movie-making.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Gurriel followed with a sinking line drive that Pages dove for in center field but couldn’t corral.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
In another instance, the museum spotlights a story about an unplanned sinking of the Orca, when a production boat that was pulling the onscreen boat went too fast and yanked out the Orca’s planking.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
Research published in 2008 links the seismic activity to a slab of oceanic crust sinking into Earth’s mantle.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
In 2012, on the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, Ballard announced a museum exhibit in Connecticut about the disaster.
—David Chiu, People.com, 1 Sep. 2025
The swim began July 26 at the spot in the water where the freighter’s journey ended, 17 miles northwest of the Whitefish Point lighthouse, which in fatal happenstance was inoperable the night of the ship’s sinking.
—John Carlisle, Freep.com, 11 Aug. 2025
And the eventual sinking came with the promise of a museum to commemorate the American legend.
—Danny Freeman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025
George Rose/Getty Images Properties on land that have experienced the most dramatic sinking suffered bigger home value losses, researchers found.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
But leaders on both the left and the right should be able to agree that no family should have to worry about poor ventilation, lead pipes, or sinking floors at their child's school.
—Erica Mosca, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Dramatic video shows a brand-new luxury yacht sinking just minutes after it was launched off the coast of Turkey, forcing its crew to leap overboard.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
John [Carter] sinking holding his recorder.
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 4 Sep. 2025
The resort’s coastal location provides many perfect spots to see the sun sinking into the Pacific each evening (preferably with a cocktail or a glass of wine in hand).
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
The sun was sinking low over Tahoe’s California.
—Grayson Haver Currin, Outside, 2 Sep. 2025
This discovery suggests a much more active early Earth, but this tectonic activity was still unstable, with crust sinking down not in a continuous motion, but in pulses, stopping for millions of years and then resuming activity.
—David Bressan, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
As in his previous films, a clanking, rattling soundscape constructed entirely in post is an artisanal marvel, immersing viewers both in the perilous metallic din of a maybe-sinking ship, and the comforting artifice of analog movie-making.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025
Gurriel followed with a sinking line drive that Pages dove for in center field but couldn’t corral.
—Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinking
Verb
-
In both Camp 6 and another detention facility, migrants reported unsanitary conditions, poor hygiene and deteriorating infrastructure.—
Mauricio Torres,
CNN Money,
29 Aug. 2025
-
By then, the humanitarian situation was deteriorating quickly.—
Tom Bowman,
NPR,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Observers warn that any attempt to disarm it by force risks plunging the country into civil conflict.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Some might argue that the United States is risking plunging itself into an ethically questionable war, but that is unlikely.—
Kristina Foltz,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Consider the type of AI tool that your business needs to succeed, and begin to strategically introduce and layer the technology in a way that feels supportive, not stifling.—
Eyal Lifshitz,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Broader questions about salary and a new contract are claimed to be stifling Stern's return and amping up the speculation about the next phase of his career.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Revered and feared in equal measure, the Barbary lion was immortalized in North African folklore as a symbol of power, majesty, and a rapidly vanishing wilderness.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
-
What follows is a crusade of detours, espionage and a paranoid struggle to preserve a vanishing world — and the only home he’s ever known.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The French prime minister was widely expected to lose the motion after failing to win support from political rivals on both the right and left for 2026 budget plans aimed at reducing the country's yawning budget deficit.—
Ganesh Rao,Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
9 Sep. 2025
-
At Tufts University, scientists have developed a new drug that aims to boost weight loss while also reducing the nausea, muscle loss and weight regain associated with popular GLP-1 medications.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This announcement, humiliating the involved member, is harmful.—
Kelly G. Richardson,
Oc Register,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
And customers are falling for it.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Other big stories ➤ The median rent on a one-bedroom Phoenix-area apartment is falling after the region led the nation in price increases in 2021.—
Lorenzino Estrada,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the data shows the dream is fading.—
Frank Holmes,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Now go claim the best Labor Day clothing sales before they—and summer itself—set like the fading sun.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Glamour,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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