The phrase "were sunk" means to be in a difficult or undesirable situation, often due to a failure or mistake. There are several synonyms that can be used in place of "were sunk" including "were in trouble," "were defeated," "were overcome," "went down," and "were ruined." Other synonyms include "hit rock bottom," "fell apart," "collapsed," "crashed," and "suffered a setback." These phrases all convey a sense of undesirable circumstances and the need for a solution to emerge from this difficult situation. Choosing the right synonym to replace "were sunk" depends on the context and tone of the conversation or text.