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
as in disaster
something that has failed
finally admitted that their marriage was a shipwreck and that the time had come to bail out
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of shipwreck
Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
Divers exploring off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, have shared the amazing discovery among a 28-year-old shipwreck that is now teaming with life once more.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Sawai's Mariko serves as a critical interpreter between the powerful Lord Yoshii Toranaga and an Englishman shipwrecked in Japan, John Blackthorne.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Noun
The shipwreck site, dubbed the Ceramic Wreck, dates back to the Late Hellenistic and Early Roman periods of the country's history.
—Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 July 2025
Divers exploring off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, have shared the amazing discovery among a 28-year-old shipwreck that is now teaming with life once more.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 June 2025
Verb
Historical sources had recorded that two Danish slave vessels were shipwrecked off the coast of Central America in 1710: The Fridericus Quartus was set on fire, while the anchor rope of the Christianus Quintus was cut and the ship was swept away.
—Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
Sawai's Mariko serves as a critical interpreter between the powerful Lord Yoshii Toranaga and an Englishman shipwrecked in Japan, John Blackthorne.
—Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 6 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shipwreck
Noun
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The need for such programs often reflect the reality that most people displaced by war or disaster typically stay within their country’s region, with only a minority travelling further afield.—
Frey Lindsay,
Forbes.com,
28 July 2025
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Phone systems are often down or busy after a disaster.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Some drugs, particularly antibiotics, can wreck the gut microbiome fast.—
Avery Hurt,
Discover Magazine,
30 July 2025
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The New York Post reported that teams were reaching out to the Mets about Blackburn in June, before a spate of injuries temporarily wrecked New York’s starting depth.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 July 2025
Noun
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But all of that absolves Luzardo from a basic failure.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
24 July 2025
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Critics of the strikes jumped at the opportunity to call the operation a failure, but the DIA’s product should ...—
NR Editors,
National Review,
24 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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