scuttled
Americanadjective
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(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.
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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
Etymology
Origin of scuttled
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a potential sign of Netflix’s confidence, it agreed to pay Warner a so-called breakup fee of $5.8 billion if the deal was scuttled because the companies couldn’t obtain necessary approvals.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025
Similar concerns scuttled the United Arab Emirates’ attempts to acquire the jet, he added.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2025
Rising electricity prices are one reason data centers are facing a growing wave of local opposition, which has delayed or scuttled tens of billions of dollars worth of projects.
From Barron's • Nov. 21, 2025
The U.S., on the other hand, scuttled almost all its weapons of that type long ago.
From Slate • Oct. 30, 2025
Templeton, who had been resting in his home, scuttled away into the barn.
From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
