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
Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Chipotle shares sunk more than 5% after the burrito chain reported sliding traffic for a fourth straight quarter.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Feb. 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
There is a major need at right defense, especially with their penalty-kill now having sunk to 28th in the league.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Chipotle shares sunk more than 5% after the burrito chain reported sliding traffic for a fourth straight quarter.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Adjective
-
Owner Jason Boso fixed that, infusing $2 million into the 10-year-old bar on better bathrooms, a covered section of the patio and a re-done kitchen.—
Sarah Blaskovich,
Dallas News,
3 Apr. 2023
Verb
-
Harald’s physical health has deteriorated in recent years, requiring Haakon to act as regent on occasion.—
Billy Stockwell,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The relationship deteriorated further after Horvath and her colleagues voted to shift hundreds of millions of dollars out of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, a city-county partnership, and into a new county agency on homelessness.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The city’s press freedom ranking plunged drastically from 80th out of 180 countries in 2021 to 140th last year, according to Reporters Without Borders.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Their standing among independents plunged during their first year.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Everywhere the Patriots went, the Seahawks swallowed them.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
With the longer-term future of HBO Max somewhat uncertain given what could happen if it gets swallowed up by one of the world’s biggest streamers, Perrette pushed back on the idea that Netflix top brass would be unhappy with HBO Max rolling out across the world.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As the climate shifted from wet, mangrove-like forests to more arid environments, many early herbivores struggled to adapt and eventually disappeared.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Searches continued in Allen Park, Michigan, for 25-year-old Wyandotte man, Tyler Bojanowski, who authorities say disappeared last week.—
Julia Avant,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The amount taxpayers can write off is reduced by $200 for each $1,000 in income above the $100,00 and $200,000 income limits.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
11 Feb. 2026
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In other experiments, Zatorre found that bolstering dopamine enhanced the enjoyment of music, while blocking dopamine reduced it.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Days after the segment was recorded, Schmitz shot Amedure to death, then confessed to the murder, saying he'd been humiliated on national TV.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
-
During the flight, she’s thoroughly humiliated when someone finds her audition tape for Survivor and displays it on his laptop for all to enjoy.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The value of the greenback has fallen nearly 10% since the outset of last year.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
7 Feb. 2026
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With less than four inches of rain since November, the South Florida Water Management District said water levels in the Biscayne Aquifer have fallen dramatically.—
Jenny Staletovich,
Miami Herald,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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