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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022
If the Rockets just sit him now, perhaps the thinking is that that $36 million contract becomes a sunk cost?
—Rahat Huq, Chron, 15 Nov. 2021
The move didn’t eliminate the enormous cap hit the team faced from its disastrous long-term extension with Wentz, but ultimately Philadelphia recognized a sunk cost and moved on from the Wentz era.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2021
Happy Customers Buy More Until recently, assisting customers was regarded as a sunk cost that dragged down the bottom line.
—Jeff Koyen, Forbes, 7 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Adjective
An additional 20 fans, about the size of small trucks, destined for Russia are sitting on her factory floor — a sunk cost of €350,000.
—New York Times, 5 Apr. 2022
If the Rockets just sit him now, perhaps the thinking is that that $36 million contract becomes a sunk cost?
—Rahat Huq, Chron, 15 Nov. 2021
The move didn’t eliminate the enormous cap hit the team faced from its disastrous long-term extension with Wentz, but ultimately Philadelphia recognized a sunk cost and moved on from the Wentz era.
—Howard Megdal, Forbes, 2 Sep. 2021
Happy Customers Buy More Until recently, assisting customers was regarded as a sunk cost that dragged down the bottom line.
—Jeff Koyen, Forbes, 7 May 2021
See All Example Sentences for sunk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sunk
Verb
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Once strong regional partners, ties between Israel and Turkey have long been frosty and deteriorated further over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.—
Andrew Wilks,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2025
-
As Bergen-Belsen’s population skyrocketed from roughly 7,300 in July 1944 to 41,000 in March 1945, living conditions rapidly deteriorated.—
Meilan Solly,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Tesla's stock has plunged since the inauguration (currently down over 40 percent) and its global sales are sluggish at best.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
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In March alone, shares have plunged more than 24%.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Tiny batteries used to power items like remote controls or small electronic toys are extremely dangerous if swallowed.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
24 Dec. 2024
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But when they're swallowed, those beads quickly expand to many times their original size, causing bowel blockages.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
She’s disappeared into history.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
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The ball literally disappeared for a couple of seconds.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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O'Reilly said that the police department reduced the number of abuse complaints and use of Taser, which had been leading to costly lawsuits.—
Niraj Warikoo,
Detroit Free Press,
3 Jan. 2025
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Liver damage can be reduced if the person stops drinking.—
George Petras,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Education One of the most glaring problems in Hartford is its underfunded school system, which has seen skyrocketing costs of tuition and transportation to send kids out of the district, while grants tied to enrollment to fund education for those left in the district have fallen.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2025
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The average time a house sits on the market has also fallen from a blazing fast 10 days in Ada County and 14 days in Canyon County in June 2021 to 52 days in Ada County and 64 days in Canyon County in February, Zimmerman said.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Liverpool remain on course for an emphatic Premier League title victory, a superb achievement given this is Slot’s first season in English football, but results have dipped.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
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Microsoft and Alphabet dipped about 2% and 4%, respectively.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Some visions of moral progress look forward to a world in which the in-group/out-group distinction has vanished.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
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Continue reading … MISSING IN ACTION – Congresswoman who quietly vanished from Capitol Hill has been living in a retirement facility.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
23 Dec. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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