SINKING Synonyms: 411 Similar and Opposite Words

sinking 1 of 3

adjective

as in fading

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sinking

2 of 3

noun

as in foundering

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as in plummeting

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sinking

3 of 3

verb

present participle of sink

as in deteriorating

to become worse or of less value his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business

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as in plunging

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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as in stifling

to refrain from openly showing or uttering sinks his pride and makes the first step towards a reconciliation

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as in vanishing

to cease to be visible that evening we sat on the beach, dreamily watching the sun sink beneath the horizon

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as in reducing

to diminish the price or value of the slightest nick will sink the price of a piece of Tiffany glass

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as in humiliating

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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as in falling

to lead or extend downward the road sinks abruptly after that curve

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as in weakening

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of sinking

Adjective

The sinking exercise was designed to strengthen the two countries’ ability to carry out long-range maritime strikes. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026

Noun

Miss Wolcott’s Ghost by Louise Penny The largest is the sinking of a luxury ocean liner called the Empress of Ireland in 1914, in which 1,012 lives were lost off the coast of Canada. — Lisa Henricksson, Air Mail, 17 Oct. 2026 As Brolin’s character explains in one of the film’s flashbacks, a whale fall is the marine biology term used to describe the death and sinking of a whale, and the delicate ecological dance that ensues. — David MacK, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026 Eleven sailors were missing at sea on Tuesday from a ship sunk by a drone attack off Bulgaria, possibly the second deadly sinking of a cargo vessel in the area in a week, prompting Bulgaria to summon Russia’s ambassador. — Reuters, NBC news, 13 Oct. 2026 Thirteen people were sentenced to prison terms of up to 10 years on Wednesday in connection with the sinking of a boat in the English Channel nearly five years ago, in one of the biggest tragedies of migrants making the dangerous crossing. — ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026 South Gate’s rain-sodden float depicted a floral Titanic sinking alongside the killer iceberg. — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 The 1997 Oscar-winning film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet depicts the sinking of the Titanic, which took the lives of 1,500 passengers in 1912. — Rachel McRady, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026 The sinking of a large ship can also have consequences beyond an immediate military setback. — Holmes Liao, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 This is where the sinking of two 260-feet (80 meter) long, barges will be used to temporarily increase the water levels near the nuclear plant. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

The legend goes that on foggy nights, during the full moon, those standing at the Cooksey Drive Overlook in Seal Harbor, just outside Acadia National Park, can hear the slaves in the hold of a sinking ship crying for help. — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 Rain had turned much of our trails into sinking mud, and rock faces to gripless stone. — Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Oct. 2026 The attacks are on brand with a wider Republican strategy around sinking El-Sayed. — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Furani deemed the current state of affairs a natural consequence of Zionist nationalism, and invited Walzer to flee the sinking ship of Zionism and board the ark of Islam and Palestinian liberation. — Jordi Graupera, New Yorker, 22 Oct. 2026 Quickley countered by trotting upcourt and sinking another 3 over the rookie. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026 High pressure causes sinking air, trapping these particles close to the surface. — Ron Smiley, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 That’s where the Chargers began sinking into that all-too-familiar quicksand, ultimately managing just six points. — Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026 The sinking sun cast a golden light over families standing in line for haunted houses and rides. — Isa Mudannayake, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sinking

Adjective

The classic budget-friendly design features a high-rise waistband that stays put, stretchy fabric that’s moisture-wicking and non-fading, and versatile colors like classic black and army green.

— Better Homes & Gardens, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026
In Aniara, the entire natural world is simply absent, a fading, unsustainable memory of something once alive.

— Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026

Definition of fading

Noun

The process, known as lithospheric foundering, resembles a geological process on Earth in which portions of the planet's outermost layer sink into the mantle.

— Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Any major foundering in New Mexico could have long-lasting consequences.

— Elliot Haspel, The Atlantic, 28 Oct. 2025

Definition of foundering

Noun

Smit Machchhar with a cabin axe before trying to take control of the aircraft’s flight controls, sending the plane plummeting.

— Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 7 Oct. 2026
This review may have already given away a little too much, but high places and plummeting are important details in this story.

— Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026

Definition of plummeting

Verb

The referendum would authorize Miami to issue $450 million in general obligation bonds to repair or replace deteriorating police and fire-rescue facilities, including construction of a new public safety building near Miami Freedom Park.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026
Declining industrial demand can make the electricity balance sheet look healthier, when the reality is that the economy is deteriorating under the pressure of relentless attacks.

— Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorating

Verb

The sharp shoulders of the gown featured an extra layer of black lace, with a slightly plunging neckline that continued the scalloped motif incorporated throughout.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026
Kardashian’s plunging corset dress featured several midriff cutouts and a semi-sheer, floor-length skirt in black.

— Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of plunging

Verb

Debt acts as a ceiling on private investment, further stifling growth.

— Masood Ahmed, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
The weather served up truly stifling heat, including a stretch of highs in the mid-90s, and a few days of air quality emergency due to wildfire smoke drifting across the upper Midwest.

— Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

Joan realizes that her mother’s vanishing meshes with a larger tapestry of tragedy that has plagued their family over the years.

— Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 23 Oct. 2026
As far as these online habits show, the sanctity of Sundays off may be vanishing as an always-on work culture takes over.

— Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of vanishing

Verb

Climate policies are reducing emissions Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement just over a decade ago, global renewable electricity capacity has grown three times faster than anticipated, while solar PV build-out has increased seven times faster.

— Simmone Shah, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
The filter also makes the page look like a poster left too long in the sun, washing it out and reducing contrast compared to monochrome e-readers.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of reducing

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sinkholes

sinking

sinking fund

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sinking

adjective

noun

verb

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