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.

Thoreau’s account begins not on the Cape, but during his rail journey from Boston, when he joins a band of mourners and gawkers to survey a shipwreck in the town of Cohasset.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

They were the go-to gifts for Father’s Day: a book about some little-known chapter of World War II, the sweeping narrative of a shipwreck, perhaps the latest presidential biography.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

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

Part of a historic shipwreck has been revealed on a beach in the wake of Storm Chandra.

From BBC • Feb. 9, 2026

Duane studied the shipwreck with great interest because Duane was a polar bear in possession of a curious nature.

From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el

Vocabulary lists containing shipwreck

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

shipwreck

Example Sentences

Related Words

Vocabulary lists containing shipwreck

The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle