scuttled
Americanadjective
-
(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.
-
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.
The Federal Trade Commission scuttled a Blockbuster acquisition External link of Hollywood Video in 2005 as a merger to monopoly; Blockbuster, the supposed rental behemoth, declared bankruptcy a few years later.
From Barron's ● Feb. 4, 2026
In that case, China scuttled a deal between MSC, Denmark’s A.P.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025
Similar concerns scuttled the United Arab Emirates’ attempts to acquire the jet, he added.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 22, 2025
The U.S., on the other hand, scuttled almost all its weapons of that type long ago.
From Slate ● Oct. 30, 2025
Theo nodded so vigorously the little lory raised her wings and scuttled sideways down his arm.
From "The Reader" by Traci Chee
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.
