Synonyms for

Sink

Verb / sɪŋk / Another word for sink — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

Sink means to go down or to cause something to go down below the surface of water or another liquid.

Synonyms & similar words

cesspool lapse settle drop dropdown sump source pass swallowhole slump sinkhole subside falloff godown gounder bury float slidedown dip cesspit drown submerge plunge descend settle drop fall immerse bury engulf lower capsize decline slip slide tumble wane weaken diminish disappear

Synonyms by register

Formal

submerge descend plunge

Informal

dip drop go down

Literary

founder plunge submerge

Antonyms

float rise ascend emerge surface appear

Common collocations

  • sink into the ground
  • sink to the bottom
  • sink or swim
  • sink your teeth into
  • sink into despair
  • sink a ship
  • sink a putt

Word family

noun sink
verb sink

Usage note

The verb 'sink' can refer to literal downward movement (e.g., a ship sinking) or figurative states (e.g., sinking into debt). Be mindful of context to avoid ambiguity.

Example sentences

  1. I accidentally dropped my spoon in the sink.
  2. The ship began to sink after hitting a rock.
  3. My heart sank when I heard the bad news.
  4. Can you help me sink this nail into the wood?
  5. The Titanic famously sank on its maiden voyage.

Quotes

  • I am a sink, you are a faucet. - Jerry Seinfeld
  • Don't sink into despair; hope abounds! - Lailah Gifty Akita
  • I'm not a one-trick pony. I can sink or swim. - Sterling K. Brown

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