ship·wreck
ˈship-ˌrek 
1
: a wrecked ship or its parts
2
: the destruction or loss of a ship
3
: an irretrievable loss or failure
shipwrecked; shipwrecking; shipwrecks
1
a
: to cause to experience shipwreck
b
: ruin
2
: to destroy (a ship) by grounding or foundering
Synonyms
Examples of shipwreck in a Sentence
Noun
Only a few sailors survived the shipwreck.
The crew narrowly avoided shipwreck.
Divers searched the sunken shipwreck.
Verb
the yachtsman fell asleep at the wheel and shipwrecked his ketch on the rocks
Recent Examples on the Web
Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 29 Jan. 2025
Most of the graveyard’s shipwrecks concentrated where the powerful Columbia River feeds into the Pacific, further south than the Valencia's resting place.
—Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Directed by Chris Sanders, The Wild Robot stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, a robot that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must adapt to the harsh surroundings.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2025
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Noun
Certified scuba divers can even explore shipwrecks with guides along the park’s Maritime Heritage Trail.
—Terry Ward, AFAR Media, 29 Jan. 2025
Most of the graveyard’s shipwrecks concentrated where the powerful Columbia River feeds into the Pacific, further south than the Valencia's resting place.
—Teresa Nowakowski, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Jan. 2025
Verb
Unlike Daniel Defoe’s hero, who was shipwrecked and fervently hoped to be rescued, Mr. Morandi chose his life of solitude.
—Elisabetta Povoledo, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
Directed by Chris Sanders, The Wild Robot stars Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, a robot that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must adapt to the harsh surroundings.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 3 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for shipwreck
Dictionary Entries Near shipwreck
Cite this Entry
“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shipwreck. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shipwreck
1 of 2 noun
ship·wreck
-ˌrek
1
: a wrecked ship
2
: the destruction or loss of a ship
shipwreck
2 of 2 verb1
: to cause to experience shipwreck
a storm that shipwrecked the sailors
2
: to destroy (a ship) by driving ashore or sinking
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