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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Examples 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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The inside story of how this relationship deteriorated is worth a read.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
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The increase in tests came as relations with the United States and its regional allies deteriorated and Pyongyang pulled closer to Russia.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The Container Store has posted losses for each of its last two fiscal years, while sales have plunged about 23% over that time.—
Aimee Picchi,
CBS News,
23 Dec. 2024
-
In March, 2000, the dot-com bubble finally burst, and during the subsequent eighteen months the Nasdaq plunged about seventy per cent, inflicting huge losses on those who had got in near the market top.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
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
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In May, a pair of Bayer fans attempting to view the sculpture from over a short brick wall on the backside of the property alerted Koko Bayer that the sculpture had disappeared.—
Andrew Travers,
The Hollywood Reporter,
8 Jan. 2025
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His mother had disappeared during the journey from Cuba.—
Linda Robertson,
Miami Herald,
8 Jan. 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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Overall, murders have fallen across the country since early 2020, with big cities like San Francisco and Chicago seeing declines.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
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Over the past three years, homicides in Chicago have fallen 29% after skyrocketing 55% between 2019 and 2020 to 769 murders.—
Bill Hutchinson,
ABC News,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The stock prices of some alcohol manufacturers, including Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors, dipped Friday after the release of the surgeon general advisory.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
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For the full year, sales of the Traverse dipped 14% to 105,835 sold.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Detroit Free Press,
3 Jan. 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
Thesaurus Entries Near sunk
Cite this Entry
“Sunk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sunk. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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