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

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 The narrator has just suggested, facetiously, that someone should install a billboard-size digital counter in Times Square to keep track of Manhattan’s sinking. — Maya Binyam, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026

Verb

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 This year, the Rocky Mountains had the least snow on record, and the lack of snowmelt is sinking reservoir levels lower. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Russian drones are suspected of sinking a cargo ship and leaving chemical tankers ablaze near the Black Sea coasts of Bulgaria and Romania, respectively. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 The committee isn’t fully aware of the muddy bog in which Taverner is currently sinking, but Lamb is starting to understand the shape of it. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 The title comes from the term used to describe a dead whale carcass sinking to the ocean floor, where its flesh becomes a smorgasbord for entire ecosystems, nourishing countless other marine life forms. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 Instead, leaders say they could be renovated in the future once the sinking ship is righted. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Polling weeks away from the midterms has shown Democrats winning the majority in the House amid the president’s sinking popularity and rising concerns over the cost of living and energy prices. — Ryan Mancini, The Hill, 14 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

Authorities warned against hiking this route this time of year due to deteriorating conditions and the onset of winter weather.

— Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Malaysia on Friday ordered hundreds of schools closed in several states because of deteriorating air quality.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorating

Verb

Instead, as Israel moved closer to a historic agreement with Saudi Arabia, Hamas launched an assault that upended the region, plunging it into war.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
While her sculptural dress commanded attention with its plunging neckline and exaggerated peplum waist, her shoes provided a sleek, minimalist finish that tied the entire look together.

— Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of plunging

Verb

The worm, however impossible to miss, is shoved, bumped, and pushed around with everyone else in the stifling subway car.

— Deadline, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
The Canal+ Group’s shuttering of the Showmax streaming service earlier this year was just the latest example of how a distribution chokepoint is stifling Africa’s creative boom.

— Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of stifling

Verb

Along with Max, Erica advocated for a charity stamp to benefit vanishing species and has been vocal about LGBTQ+ visibility at baseball games.

— Madeleine Janz, PEOPLE, 28 Sep. 2026
If live sports are the only thing preventing the bundle from vanishing outright, a stable virtual MVPD market has gone a long way toward moderating the overall losses in the pay-TV space.

— Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of vanishing

Verb

While serving as a public health official, el Sayed wrote an op-ed in 2019 strongly supporting the Green New Deal, arguing that reducing greenhouse gas emissions will help improve public health.

— Maydeen Merino, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
Together, the tools could help accelerate the development of more resilient electric motor systems while reducing the risks associated with critical material shortages, volatile supply chains and rapidly changing global markets.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of reducing

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sinkholes

sinking

sinking fund

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Style

“Sinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sinking. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of sinking

adjective

noun

verb

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