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
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The sunk cost fallacy, for example, can lead companies to continue investing in maintaining a physical office space, despite the benefits of remote work.
—Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023
Dan Raby, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Avis — Shares sunk more than 9% after surging more than 48% last week.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Adjective
With Aguirre’s plan, the efforts will become a sunk cost.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
The sunk cost fallacy, for example, can lead companies to continue investing in maintaining a physical office space, despite the benefits of remote work.
—Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Forbes, 6 Feb. 2023
Verb
That ship was attacked and sunk by Allied aircraft while anchored in what is now Taiwan.
—Dan Raby, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Avis — Shares sunk more than 9% after surging more than 48% last week.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Verb
-
Conspicuous cracks had developed along the building’s outside walls as exterior stucco deteriorated.—
Karen Kucher,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Market deterioration Markets have deteriorated over the past few days.—
Matt Peterson,
CNBC,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The price of crude plunged by more than ten per cent.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Export revenues plunged by about 30% that month compared with a year earlier.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Aden alone, the count is in the hundreds — most of them swallowed by a secret prison network managed by the UAE and its affiliated forces, where torture, beatings and abuse were common, according to the Yemeni government, human rights organizations and the United Nations.—
Nabih Bulos,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Another recall targeted Sunnyyes LED mini lights, which were sold on Amazon between March 2024 and March 2026, and contain coin batteries that can be easily accessed and then potentially swallowed.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Seriously injured, Johnson was rescued by helicopter, but Molly disappeared.—
Clare Fisher,
PEOPLE,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Cloud rap never disappeared, but the party was over.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The character, played by Esteban Andres Cruz, has been reduced to a simpering stereotype who makes a pass at a cop and mimics a blow job.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Seen from this perspective, ecology cannot be reduced to questions of proximity alone.—
Manuela Moscoso,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At one point in his teenage years, Diaz was publicly humiliated by the football team who forcefully shaved his curly hair.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Walz and Ellison were humiliated and could not account for their blundering.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As organizations have flattened their organizational structures and cut out middle managers, mentorship and coaching have fallen by the wayside.—
Jacqueline Munis,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
To the begonia collectors out there, Begona Black Velvet, with large leaves that could have fallen from a maple tree, is worth a careful look.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The idea of a quick military solution has faded, but no serious political alternative has taken its place.—
Kazem Kazerounian,
Hartford Courant,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And the beetles faded from her days without her noticing.—
María Ospina,
The Dial,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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