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Definitions

shipwreck

[ship-rek] / ˈʃɪpˌrɛk /
NOUN
castaway
Synonyms
STRONG
derelict leper maroon outcast outlaw pariah renegade reprobate waif
NOUN
hulk
Synonyms
STRONGEST
blob hull hunk skeleton wreck
STRONG
body bulk carcass chunk clod clump frame mass ruins shambles shell
Antonyms
WEAK
bit
NOUN
wreck
Synonyms
STRONGEST
collapse crash debacle debris destruction devastation hulk mess ruin wreckage
STRONG
crate derelict disruption heap jalopy junk junker litter relic ruins total waste
WEAK
fender bender pile-up rear-ender smash-up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
building construction creation
VERB
defeat
Synonyms
STRONGEST
beat crush finish off overpower overthrow overwhelm rout upset vanquish whip
STRONG
ambush annihilate bar best block butcher decimate demolish discomfit drown entrap halt hinder impede lick obliterate obstruct outflank outmaneuver overrun parry quell reduce repel repress repulse route sack scatter sink slaughter smash subdue subjugate suppress surmount swamp torpedo trample trash
WEAK
bear down mow down prevail over roll back wipe out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
fail lose surrender yield
STRONG
advance aid allow assist attract build clear construct encourage facilitate fix float forward free grow help increase let go liberate open permit promote push release save strengthen support win
WEAK
abet give up inspirit
VERB
sink
Synonyms
STRONGEST
capsize decline descend dig dip disappear drill drive drop drown fall go down lower overturn plummet plunge ram sag settle slump stick submerge wreck
STRONG
bore depress droop ebb engulf excavate flounder founder immerse overwhelm regress scuttle set slope stab stoop subside swamp thrust
WEAK
bring down cast down cave in force down go to the bottom let down put down tip over touch bottom
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend go up increase raise rise
STRONG
excite grow lift succeed
WEAK
fight float strengthen
VERB
submerse
Synonyms
STRONG
bore capsize couch decline depress descend dig dip disappear drill drive droop drop drown ebb engulf excavate fall flounder founder immerse lay lower overturn overwhelm plummet plunge ram regress run sag scuttle set settle slope slump stab stick stoop submerge subside swamp thrust wreck
WEAK
bring down cast down cave in demit force down go down go to the bottom let down put down tip over touch bottom
Antonyms
STRONG
ascend discourage displace dissuade dry excite fill go up grow halt increase lift neglect raise remove rise stop succeed underwhelm
VERB
wreck
Synonyms
STRONGEST
batter decimate demolish destroy devastate impair injure mangle mar ravage raze ruin sabotage shatter sink smash spoil torpedo trash undermine vandalize wrack
STRONG
bash break capsize crash dash dilapidate efface founder scuttle strand subvert total
WEAK
crack up do in mess up pile up put out of commission run aground smash up take apart take out tear up wrack up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist build construct cure enable fix grow heal help improve mend strengthen
STRONG
obey
WEAK
create repair

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

In this longer and more structured form, what began as an intentional scattering of ashes becomes an elegiac letter home mediated by shipwreck.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 4, 2026

William Golding wrote his tale partially in response to “The Coral Island,” a Victorian-era potboiler about three boys who survive a shipwreck thanks to their bluff resourcefulness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

Author and mudlarker Lara Maiklem said the boots were "definitely Victorian" and likely to have come from a shipwreck due to the quantity found.

From BBC • Dec. 23, 2025

Fourteen survivors were also rescued since the shipwreck on November 6, near Thailand's Tarutao island while trying to reach Malaysia.

From Barron's • Nov. 17, 2025

This process of turning seawater into drinking water is important: it means that a shipwreck on the frozen sea does not necessarily mean certain death.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong