scuttled

[ skuht-ld ]

adjective

1. (of a vessel) deliberately sunk, often by opening seacocks or making openings in the hull:

   It is important to ensure that the scuttled vessel is suitably weighted and negatively buoyant so it will sink rapidly and remain stable on the bottom.

2. abandoned, dropped, cut, or thwarted, as a hope, plan, program, etc.:

   In the fallout over the scuttled deal, two executives were fired for ethical violations related to the negotiations.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of scuttle ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of scuttled¹

First recorded in 1740–50; scuttle ¹( def ) + -ed ²( def ) for the adjective senses; scuttle ¹( def ) + -ed ¹( def ) for the verb sense

Example Sentences

Vice President Kamala Harris, who made reproductive rights a cornerstone of her campaign, lost to former President Trump, who had repeatedly boasted about appointing the Supreme Court justices who were among the majority that scuttled Roe.

From Los Angeles Times

The county planned to renew shelter operations on the property until Norwalk’s law scuttled the decision.

From Los Angeles Times

It did the trick when Bashir scuttled one into Noman’s pads.

From BBC

If the money doesn’t come through soon, transit planners predict some critical projects may be scuttled — making it tougher for visitors and regular commuters to get around town.

From Los Angeles Times

I was scheduled to see Jen Silverman’s “The Roommate,” starring that most enticing Broadway odd couple, Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow, but illness in the cast scuttled my plans.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• scamper
• scurry