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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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of sunk
New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022
If the Rockets just sit him now, perhaps the thinking is that that $36 million contract becomes a sunk cost?
—Rahat Huq, Chron, 15 Nov. 2021
The move didn’t eliminate the enormous cap hit the team faced from its disastrous long-term extension with Wentz, but ultimately Philadelphia recognized a sunk cost and moved on from the Wentz era.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2021
Happy Customers Buy More Until recently, assisting customers was regarded as a sunk cost that dragged down the bottom line.
—Jeff Koyen, Forbes, 7 May 2021
See all Example Sentences for sunk 
Adjective
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
If the Rockets just sit him now, perhaps the thinking is that that $36 million contract becomes a sunk cost?
—Rahat Huq, Chron, 15 Nov. 2021
The move didn’t eliminate the enormous cap hit the team faced from its disastrous long-term extension with Wentz, but ultimately Philadelphia recognized a sunk cost and moved on from the Wentz era.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2021
Happy Customers Buy More Until recently, assisting customers was regarded as a sunk cost that dragged down the bottom line.
—Jeff Koyen, Forbes, 7 May 2021
See all Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Verb
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Conditions had deteriorated overnight when the roof of a nearby mine collapsed.Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 6 Dec. 2024
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Despite their durability, early diamond bits often deteriorated quickly under the severe conditions of geothermal sites—hot, hard rock and high temperatures posed substantial challenges.Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Dec. 2024
Verb
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When news of the investigation became public, the price of the company’s stock plunged, erasing nearly $25 billion in shareholder value, according to the lawsuit.Amy Julia Harris, New York Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Civilians across Syria have taken to the streets to celebrate the fall of the Assad family regime, which has governed the nation since the 1960s, and whose repressive policies helped instigate the 2011 uprising which plunged the country into civil war.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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This tract is a series of throat and stomach organs that include the esophagus and small and large intestines that food and liquids move through as they are swallowed, digested and absorbed.Daryl Austin, USA TODAY, 7 Dec. 2024
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That organizational defiance of a league-wide trend, expressed in succinct but undeniably contrarian terms by general manager Calvin Booth two months ago, actually hasn’t swallowed their season whole.Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Thousands walk out of Syrian prisons as families search desperately for the disappeared.Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 10 Dec. 2024
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Megafauna seem to have disappeared around the end of the Pleistocene, after humans’ Asia-to-America migration.Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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However, Jordan’s decision to wind down operations before the sale reduced the final price.Lien De Pau, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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As families grow from two married adults to larger households with multiple children, others have reduced their circle of giving.Julianna Bragg, CNN, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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As reported in The Hill, battery storage has fallen more than 90% in about a decade, based on data from the International Energy Agency, which says declines will drive the transition to renewable energy.Tracy Price, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Inflation has fallen dramatically but remains above the Fed's target rate.Max Zahn, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Netflix has another hit on its hands with Black Doves, the Keira Knightley spy thriller sitting at #1 on the charts with a 94% review score that only dipped recently to a 98%.Paul Tassi, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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In the United States, the bourbon market witnessed the shutdown of facilities including Kentucky’s Old Taylor Distillery in the 1970s as market demand for bourbon dipped.Anthony Zhang, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Assad’s regime vanished at a speed few anticipated.Guney Yildiz, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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Advertisement Others ransacked the presidential palace after Assad vanished.Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near sunk
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.
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