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sinking ship

NOUN
failure
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bankruptcy breakdown collapse decline defeat deficiency deterioration failing loss misstep
STRONG
abortion bomb botch bungle bust checkmate decay deficit downfall fiasco flop frustration implosion inadequacy lemon loser mess misadventure miscarriage nonperformance overthrow rout rupture stalemate stoppage turkey washout wreck
WEAK
false step faux pas flash in the pan lead balloon nonsuccess total loss
Antonyms
STRONGEST
betterment improvement increase rise success win
STRONG
accomplishment benefit blessing continuation enough plenty triumph
WEAK
achievement achiever attainment earnings gain merit
NOUN
insolvency
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bankruptcy breakdown deterioration implosion inadequacy rupture
STRONG
bomb botch bungle bust checkmate collapse decay decline defeat deficiency deficit downfall failing fiasco flop frustration lemon loser loss mess misadventure miscarriage misstep nonperformance overthrow rout stalemate stoppage turkey washout wreck
WEAK
false step faux pas flash in the pan lead balloon nonsuccess total loss
Antonyms
STRONG
accomplishment achievement advantage ascent benefit blessing continuation enough improvement increase plenty rise strength success triumph win
NOUN
nonfeasance
Synonyms
STRONG
abortion bankruptcy bomb botch breakdown bungle bust checkmate collapse decay decline default defeat deficiency deficit delinquency dereliction deterioration downfall failing fiasco flop frustration implosion inadequacy lemon loser loss mess misadventure miscarriage misstep neglect nonperformance omission overthrow rout rupture stalemate stoppage turkey washout wreck
WEAK
false step faux pas flash in the pan lead balloon nonsuccess total loss
Antonyms
STRONG
accomplishment achievement adequacy advantage ascent benefit betterment blessing continuation development enough improvement increase perfection plenty rise satisfaction strength success sufficiency triumph win
NOUN
unsuccess
Synonyms
WEAK
abortion bankruptcy bomb botch breakdown bungle bust checkmate collapse decay decline defeat deficiency deficit deterioration downfall failing false step faux pas fiasco flash in the pan flop frustration implosion inadequacy lead balloon lemon loser loss mess misadventure miscarriage misstep nonperformance nonsuccess overthrow rout rupture stalemate stoppage total loss turkey unsuccessfulness washout wreck
NOUN
unsuccessfulness
Synonyms
WEAK
abortion bankruptcy bomb botch breakdown bungle bust checkmate collapse decay decline defeat deficiency deficit deterioration downfall failing false step faux pas fiasco flash in the pan flop frustration implosion inadequacy lead balloon lemon loser loss mess misadventure miscarriage misstep nonperformance nonsuccess overthrow rout rupture stalemate stoppage total loss turkey unsuccess washout wreck

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.

Adrift and emasculated, Stan is less a patriarch than the defeated captain of a sinking ship, drowning in his futility.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 26, 2025

Juric may have inherited a sinking ship but he never looked like he would steer them to safety.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2025

Who buys a ticket to get on a sinking ship?

From Seattle Times • May 11, 2024

Were that not sufficiently beyond the pale, their client then took the helm of the sinking ship and plunged it farther into the rocks by repeating the same lies directly to the judge.

From Slate • Jan. 16, 2024

Her chest fills with anxiety, same as a sinking ship fills with water—it rushes in and then rises slowly.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti

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