Sinking — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun phrase adjective /ˈsiŋk/

Meaning & Definition of Sinking

Sinking (verb)

  1. to go to the bottom, submerge
  2. to become partly buried (as in mud)
  3. to become engulfed
  4. to become completely known, felt, or understood

Sinking (noun)

  1. a fund set up and accumulated by usually regular deposits for paying off the principal of a debt when it falls due
  2. a feeling of dread or discouragement
  3. great sadness

Sinking (phrase)

  1. to bite into
  2. to eagerly devote one's attention to

Sinking (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in fading, expiring

    similar: expiring, fading, passing away, dying, moribund, decadent, declining, deteriorating, dead, deceased, defunct, demised, departed, fallen, gone, lifeless, passed away, terminal
    opposite: alive, animate, live, living, quick, being, breathing, existing, subsisting, surviving, booming, flourishing, prospering, roaring, thriving, animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy

Sinking (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in foundering

    similar: foundering, beaching, grounding, stranding, scuttling, shipwreck, shipwrecking, wreck, wreckage, wrecking
    opposite: recovery, salvage, salvaging

  2. as in plummeting

    similar: plummeting, comedown, decline, downfall, downgrade, descent, dip, dive, down, drop, fall, nosedive, plunge
    opposite: ascent, climb, rise, rising, soaring, upswing, upturn, advance, headway, progress, progression, betterment, improvement

Sinking (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to become worse or of less value

    "his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business"

    similar: atrophying, crumbling, decaying, declining, degenerating, descending, deteriorating, devolving, ebbing, regressing, retrograding, rotting, worsening, going to pot, going to seed
    related: abating, de-escalating, diminishing, downsizing, dwindling, receding, waning, breaking down, corrupting, decomposing, degrading, dilapidating, disintegrating, moldering, putrefying, souring, spoiling, lessening, lowering, reducing, debilitating, undermining, drooping, failing, falling, flagging, lagging, languishing, running down, sagging, slipping, wasting (away), weakening, wilting
    opposite: ameliorating, improving, meliorating
    near: bettering, upgrading, enhancing, enriching, fortifying, heightening, intensifying, strengthening, advancing, developing, marching, proceeding, progressing

  2. 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"

    similar: crashing, cratering, declining, descending, dipping, diving, dropping, falling, lowering, nose-diving, plummeting, plunging, skidding, tumbling
    related: abating, decreasing, de-escalating, diminishing, drooping, dwindling, dying (down), ebbing, lessening, letting up, moderating, subsiding, tapering off, waning, receding, retreating
    opposite: arising, ascending, lifting, mounting, rising, soaring, spiking, upping
    near: accumulating, ballooning, building, burgeoning, enlarging, escalating, expanding, growing, increasing, intensifying, mushrooming, picking up, snowballing, swelling, waxing

  3. to refrain from openly showing or uttering

    "sinks his pride and makes the first step towards a reconciliation"

    similar: choking (back), holding back, pocketing, repressing, smothering, stifling, strangling, submerging, suppressing, swallowing
    related: controlling, governing, managing, bridling, checking, curbing, quashing, quelling, bottling up, containing, muffling, squelching
    near: expressing, loosing, releasing, taking out, unleashing, venting

  4. to cease to be visible

    "that evening we sat on the beach, dreamily watching the sun sink beneath the horizon"

    similar: dematerializing, disappearing, dissolving, evanescing, evaporating, fading, fleeing, flying, melting, vanishing, dropping out of sight
    related: blanking (out), clearing, dispersing, dissipating, drying up, dying (away or down or out), blurring, dimming
    opposite: appearing, materializing
    near: arriving, breaking out, coming out, emerging, issuing, looming, showing up

  5. to diminish the price or value of

    "the slightest nick will sink the price of a piece of Tiffany glass"

    similar: attenuating, breaking, cheapening, depreciating, depressing, devaluating, devaluing, downgrading, lowering, marking down, reducing, writing down, writing off
    related: debasing, demonetizing, underestimating, underpricing, underrating, undervaluing, abridging, compressing, contracting, de-escalating, deflating, downsizing, dwindling, lessening, moderating, shrinking
    opposite: appreciating, enhancing, marking up, upgrading
    near: bloating, blowing up, inflating, overestimating, overpricing, overrating, overvaluing, adding, aggrandizing, amplifying, augmenting, ballooning, boosting, compounding, dilating, enlarging, escalating, expanding, extending, heightening, increasing, maximizing, multiplying, raising, swelling, upping

  6. 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"

    similar: abasing, chastening, cheapening, debasing, degrading, demeaning, discrediting, disgracing, dishonoring, fouling, humbling, humiliating, lowering, shaming, smirching, taking down
    related: abashing, confounding, confusing, discomfiting, disconcerting, discountenancing, embarrassing, fazing, flustering, mortifying, nonplussing, rattling, belittling, castigating, criticizing, crying down, decrying, depreciating, detracting, diminishing, discounting, disparaging, minimizing, putting down, ridiculing, writing off, bad-mouthing, defaming, defiling, libeling, maligning, slandering, affronting, insulting, censuring, condemning, damning, denouncing, execrating, reprehending, reprobating
    opposite: aggrandizing, canonizing, deifying, elevating, exalting
    near: acclaiming, applauding, boasting, celebrating, cheering, citing, commending, complimenting, congratulating, decorating, eulogizing, extolling, feting, hailing, honoring, lauding, praising, saluting, touting, acknowledging, recognizing, highlighting, playing up, spotlighting, dignifying, ennobling, enshrining, enskying, enthroning, glorifying, magnifying, advancing, boosting, lifting, promoting, raising, upgrading, uplifting, idealizing, romanticizing

  7. to lead or extend downward

    "the road sinks abruptly after that curve"

    similar: declining, descending, dipping, dropping, falling, plunging
    related: angling, canting, cocking, heeling, inclining, leaning, listing, reclining, slanting, sloping, tilting, tipping
    opposite: arising, ascending, climbing, mounting, rising, uprising, upsweeping, upturning
    near: evening, flattening, leveling, planing, smoothing, straightening

  8. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "the old woman only sunk further after she was moved to the nursing home"

    similar: decaying, drooping, emaciating, fading, failing, flagging, going, lagging, languishing, sagging, wasting (away), weakening, wilting, withering
    related: breaking down, wearing out, yielding, degenerating, deteriorating, rotting, running down
    near: convalescing, rallying, rebounding, recovering, recuperating, gaining

Related Entry: Sink (verb)

Sink is a different word from Sinking. The synonyms below are for sink, not for sinking.

  1. to become worse or of less value

    "his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business"

    similar: atrophy, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, worsen, go to pot, go to seed
    related: abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane, break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy, sour, spoil, lessen, lower, reduce, debilitate, undermine, droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wilt
    opposite: ameliorate, improve, meliorate
    near: better, upgrade, enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen, advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

  2. 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"

    similar: crash, crater, decline, descend, dip, dive, drop, fall, lower, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, skid, tumble
    related: abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, droop, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, moderate, subside, taper off, wane, recede, retreat
    opposite: arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up
    near: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, wax

  3. to refrain from openly showing or uttering

    "sinks his pride and makes the first step towards a reconciliation"

    similar: choke (back), hold back, pocket, repress, smother, stifle, strangle, submerge, suppress, swallow
    related: control, govern, manage, bridle, check, curb, quash, quell, bottle up, contain, muffle, squelch
    near: express, loose, release, take out, unleash, vent

  4. to cease to be visible

    "that evening we sat on the beach, dreamily watching the sun sink beneath the horizon"

    similar: dematerialize, disappear, dissolve, evanesce, evaporate, fade, flee, fly, melt, vanish, drop out of sight
    related: blank (out), clear, die (away or down or out), disperse, dissipate, dry up, blur, dim
    opposite: appear, materialize
    near: arrive, break out, come out, emerge, issue, loom, show up

  5. to diminish the price or value of

    "the slightest nick will sink the price of a piece of Tiffany glass"

    similar: attenuate, break, cheapen, depreciate, depress, devaluate, devalue, downgrade, lower, mark down, reduce, write down, write off
    related: debase, demonetize, underestimate, underprice, underrate, undervalue, abridge, compress, contract, de-escalate, deflate, downsize, dwindle, lessen, moderate, shrink
    opposite: appreciate, enhance, mark up, upgrade
    near: bloat, blow up, inflate, overestimate, overprice, overrate, overvalue, add, aggrandize, amplify, augment, balloon, boost, compound, dilate, enlarge, escalate, expand, extend, heighten, increase, maximize, multiply, raise, swell, up

  6. 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"

    similar: abase, chasten, cheapen, debase, degrade, demean, discredit, disgrace, dishonor, foul, humble, humiliate, lower, shame, smirch, take down
    related: abash, confound, confuse, discomfit, disconcert, discountenance, embarrass, faze, fluster, mortify, nonplus, rattle, belittle, castigate, criticize, cry down, decry, depreciate, detract, diminish, discount, disparage, minimize, put down, ridicule, write off, bad-mouth, defame, defile, libel, malign, slander, affront, insult, censure, condemn, damn, denounce, execrate, reprehend, reprobate
    opposite: aggrandize, canonize, deify, elevate, exalt
    near: acclaim, applaud, boast, celebrate, cheer, cite, commend, compliment, congratulate, decorate, eulogize, extol, fete, hail, honor, laud, praise, salute, tout, acknowledge, recognize, highlight, play up, spotlight, dignify, ennoble, enshrine, ensky, enthrone, glorify, magnify, advance, boost, lift, promote, raise, upgrade, uplift, idealize, romanticize

  7. to lead or extend downward

    "the road sinks abruptly after that curve"

    similar: decline, descend, dip, drop, fall, plunge
    related: angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip
    opposite: arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn
    near: even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straighten

  8. to lose bodily strength or vigor

    "the old woman only sunk further after she was moved to the nursing home"

    similar: decay, droop, emaciate, fade, fail, flag, go, lag, languish, sag, waste (away), weaken, wilt, wither
    related: break down, wear out, yield, degenerate, deteriorate, rot, run down
    near: convalesce, rally, rebound, recover, recuperate, gain

Related Entry: Sinking fund (noun)

Sinking fund is a different word from Sinking. The synonyms below are for sinking fund, not for sinking.

  1. as in deposit, treasure

    similar: coffers, deposit, funds, nest egg, savings, treasure, cache, hoard, stash, stockpile, store, inventory, pool, reserve, reservoir, stock, provisions, resources, accumulation, assemblage, collection, gathering, harvest, repertory

Related Entry: Sinking funds (noun)

Sinking funds is a different word from Sinking. The synonyms below are for sinking funds, not for sinking.

  1. as in funds, nest eggs

    similar: coffers, deposits, funds, nest eggs, savings, treasures, caches, hoards, stashes, stockpiles, stores, inventories, pools, reserves, reservoirs, stocks, provisions, resources, accumulations, assemblages, collections, gatherings, harvests, repertories

Related Entry: Sinking one's teeth into (phrase)

Sinking one's teeth into is a different word from Sinking. The synonyms below are for sinking one's teeth into, not for sinking.

  1. to crush or grind with the teeth

    "She couldn't wait to sink her teeth into the birthday cake."

    similar: biting (on), champing, chawing, chewing, chomping (on), crunching (on), gnawing (on), masticating, nibbling
    related: ruminating, munching, noshing, snacking, consuming, eating, ingesting, swallowing, bolting, devouring, gobbling (up or down), gorging, gulping, scarfing, scoffing, wolfing, nipping, pecking (at), picking (at), gumming, mumbling

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Sinking

The most common words with a similar meaning to Sinking:

expiring, fading, passing away, dying, moribund, decadent, declining, deteriorating, dead, deceased, defunct, demised, departed, fallen, gone, lifeless, passed away, terminal, foundering, beaching, grounding, stranding, scuttling, shipwreck, shipwrecking, wreck, wreckage, wrecking, plummeting, comedown, decline, downfall, downgrade, descent, dip, dive, down, drop, fall, nosedive

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Sinking

Words with the opposite meaning of Sinking:

alive, animate, live, living, quick, being, breathing, existing, subsisting, surviving, booming, flourishing, prospering, roaring, thriving, animated, bouncing, energetic, frisky, jazzy, lively, peppy, perky, spirited, sprightful, sprightly, springy, vital, vivacious, zippy

Related Words for Sinking

abating, de-escalating, diminishing, downsizing, dwindling, receding, waning, breaking down, corrupting, decomposing, dilapidating, disintegrating, moldering, putrefying, souring, spoiling, lessening, debilitating, undermining, running down, slipping, decreasing, dying (down), letting up, moderating, subsiding, tapering off, retreating, controlling, governing

Near Antonyms of Sinking

bettering, enriching, fortifying, heightening, intensifying, strengthening, advancing, developing, marching, proceeding, progressing, accumulating, ballooning, building, burgeoning, enlarging, escalating, expanding, growing, increasing, mushrooming, picking up, snowballing, swelling, waxing, expressing, loosing, releasing, taking out, unleashing

Word Forms of Sinking

Inflections: sank, sunk, sank in, sunk in, sinking in, sinks in

Derived words: sinkable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Sinking

Middle English, from Old English sincan; akin to Old High German sinkan to sink

First known use: before 12th centuryi

Words & Phrases Containing Sinking

sinking fund, sinking feeling, sinking heart

Frequently Asked Questions about Sinking

What does "Sinking" mean?

"Sinking" means to go to the bottom, submerge. As an a verb, a noun, a phrase and an adjective, it is defined as: to go to the bottom, submerge. It has 11 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Sinking"?

Other words for "Sinking" include expiring, fading, passing away, dying, moribund, decadent, declining and deteriorating. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Sinking" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Sinking"?

There are 233 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Sinking". Common alternatives include expiring, fading, passing away, dying, moribund, decadent, declining, deteriorating, dead and deceased.

What is the opposite of "Sinking"?

Antonyms of "Sinking" include alive, animate, live, living, quick, being, breathing and existing. Near antonyms include bettering, enriching, fortifying and heightening.

How do you use "Sinking" in a sentence?

Examples of "Sinking" in a sentence: "his fortunes have steadily sunk since the breakup of his business"; "I had just bought a bundle of shares of the stock when its price sank like a rock"; "sinks his pride and makes the first step towards a reconciliation".

Is "Sinking" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Sinking" can be used as a verb, a noun, a phrase and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Sinking"?

"Sinking" is pronounced /ˈsiŋk/.

What is the origin of the word "Sinking"?

"Sinking" comes from Middle English, from Old English sincan; akin to Old High German sinkan to sink. First known use: before 12th centuryi.