Sinking is a term that describes something slowly going down, lower and lower, typically into a liquid or soft surface. However, there are many ways to express this phenomenon with other words. Words such as descending, submerging, dipping, or plummeting can describe the downward motion of something. Other words like shriveling, collapsing or crumbling, can also indicate a sinking process or effect taking place. Additionally, words like struggling, floundering, slipping, or sliding can indicate an action of someone trying to avoid sinking. Ultimately, whether it's in the context of water, soil, sand, or any other material, there are many ways to describe the act of sinking with a variety of effective synonyms.