shipwreck 1 of 2

Definition of shipwrecknext
1
as in wrecking
the destruction or loss of a ship the shipwreck of much of the Spanish Armada ended Spain's plans for invading England

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2

shipwreck

2 of 2

verb

as in to wreck
to cause irreparable damage to (a ship) by running aground or sinking the yachtsman fell asleep at the wheel and shipwrecked his ketch on the rocks

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of shipwreck
Noun
Human rights groups are increasingly struggling to verify tolls as Italy, Tunisia and Malta have quietly restricted information on migrant rescues and shipwrecks along the deadliest migration route in the world. ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026 The film’s direction, combined with the film’s cinematography, focuses on the mythological essence of Elefsina and the mysterious shipwrecks hidden in the darkness of its seabed. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
The park service first documented zebra mussels during a training dive at the SS Sevona shipwreck off the Sand Island shoal in 2015. Caitlin Looby, jsonline.com, 20 Jan. 2026 In this film, the pups get shipwrecked on a mysterious dinosaur island. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 1 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shipwreck
Noun
  • At least, there was a lot less wrecking.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The Ravens haven’t really had that game-wrecking pass rusher since Terrell Suggs was in his prime.
    The Athletic NFL Staff, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Taken to an extreme, an ever-evolving idea of retirement could outlive drastic institutional change, perhaps enduring longer than the institutions of American democracy or beyond climate disaster.
    Trevor Jackson, The New York Review of Books, 4 Apr. 2026
  • Steve DeJong will retire from the Homewood Fire Department after more than two decades to accept a position at MABAS Illinois, the statewide mutual aid and disaster response coordinator.
    Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • One such attack on March 27 wrecked an AWACS at Prince Sultan Air Base in eastern Saudi Arabia.
    Sig Christenson, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The war goes on, and Iran has shown its ability to hit American targets in the region, as well as to wreck the global economy.
    Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line are also off course, running aground and sinking.
    Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
  • This isn't a part -- this isn't just about a ship sinking.
    ABC News, ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • In 2023, the number dropped significantly, even as supervision failures within jails persisted, down to 63.
    Ryan Oehrli April 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Prosecutors also cited Cortez Johnson's prior probation violations, failures to appear, and past convictions.
    Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 31 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.

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