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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Recent Examples of shipwreck
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
Archaeologists discovered the true identity of two shipwrecks in shallow waters off Cahuita National Park, on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, that were long thought to be pirate ships.
— Perhaps a toadstool house isn’t just a fairy tale.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 Feb. 2025
The movie, the story of a robot shipwrecked on an island only inhabited by animals, includes a shot of San Francisco Bay and depicts the Golden Gate Bridge as submerged due to sea level rise.
—Zack Budryk, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Noun
The digital record ensures that the shipwreck will keep yielding information long after the physical remains have disintegrated, experts said.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2025
Archaeologists discovered the true identity of two shipwrecks in shallow waters off Cahuita National Park, on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, that were long thought to be pirate ships.
— Perhaps a toadstool house isn’t just a fairy tale.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 May 2025
Verb
Another particularly gay episode sends Peter and his friends on a dangerous sailing expedition, only for them to get shipwrecked on Fire Island.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 16 Feb. 2025
The movie, the story of a robot shipwrecked on an island only inhabited by animals, includes a shot of San Francisco Bay and depicts the Golden Gate Bridge as submerged due to sea level rise.
—Zack Budryk, The Hill, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shipwreck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for shipwreck
Noun
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After the fires, the governor formed the Climate Advisory Team (CAT) to develop climate disaster policy recommendations.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
29 May 2025
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The first episode features the recreation by actors of actual communication or lack of communication between the pilot and his junior officer that led to these disasters.—
Stephen Rodrick,
Rolling Stone,
29 May 2025
Verb
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During testimony, Lance Jimenez of the Los Angeles Fire Department recalled a 2012 incident in which an explosion wrecked a Porsche owned by Scott Mescudi, professionally known as Kid Cudi.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
28 May 2025
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Walls were wrecked by artillery blasts and gunfire.—
Emmanuel Akinwotu,
NPR,
27 May 2025
Noun
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Yesterday, when asked about Musk’s criticism--which could sink the entire bill, if enough Senate Republicans like Ron Johnson and their constituents turn against it--the president chalked it up to sour grapes over the bill’s failure to extend EV tax credits.—
Kelly Evans,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
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This is a classic Washington move — blame the private sector to cover for a government failure.—
Stacy Washington,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Shipwreck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/shipwreck. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
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