crinkle

1 of 2

verb

crin·​kle ˈkriŋ-kəl How to pronounce crinkle (audio)
crinkled; crinkling ˈkriŋ-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce crinkle (audio)
Synonyms of crinklenext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to form many short bends or ripples
b
2
: to give forth a thin crackling sound : rustle
crinkling silks

transitive verb

: to cause to crinkle : make crinkles in

crinkle

2 of 2

noun

1
2
: any of several virus diseases of plants marked by crinkling of leaves
crinkly adjective

Examples of crinkle in a Sentence

Verb The corners of his eyes crinkle when he smiles. a paper seat cover that crinkles with every move Noun little crinkles at the corners of his mouth showed whenever he smiled
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The loose, fluid shape created a sense of ease, while the crinkled, textural fabrication gave the gown a whimsical touch of dimension. Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 11 June 2026 Similar in appearance to savoy spinach, but semi-savoy is moderately crinkled and easier to handle, says Kasper. Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
And even after being rolled up in a suitcase, one Amazon shopper said these breezy pants remained free of crinkles. Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026 Many stuffed, rubber, and nylon toys can be put in the washing machine—though toys stuffed with crinkles or squeakers could be affected by machine washing. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for crinkle

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English crynkelen; akin to Old English cringan to yield

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1600, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1596, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crinkle was in 1596

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crinkle. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

crinkle

1 of 2 verb
crin·​kle ˈkriŋ-kəl How to pronounce crinkle (audio)
crinkled; crinkling -k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce crinkle (audio)
1
: to form or cause little waves or wrinkles on the surface
2

crinkle

2 of 2 noun
crinkly adjective

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