crumple

1 of 2

verb

crum·​ple ˈkrəm-pəl 

crumpled; crumpling ˈkrəm-p(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to press, bend, or crush out of shape : rumple

2

: to cause to collapse

intransitive verb

1

: to become crumpled

2

: collapse

crumple

2 of 2

noun

: a wrinkle or crease made by crumpling

crumply

ˈkrəm-p(ə-)lē 

adjective

Synonyms of crumple

Verb

• scrunch
• fold
• wrinkle

Examples of crumple in a Sentence

Verb

She crumpled the piece of paper into a ball and tossed it into the garbage can.

The car's fender was crumpled in the accident.

At the sight of blood, he crumpled to the floor.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The question is whether the world can take that long of a shock without crumpling beneath the weight of rising inflation and staggering growth. —Tristan Bove, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026

In recent years, researchers have discovered that, aside from fracturing, living tissues also crumple, buckle, wrinkle, and fold via physical mechanisms that produce incredible diversity with just a few slight tweaks in tissue properties and architecture. —Clare Watson, Quanta Magazine, 27 Feb. 2026

Noun

Simply crumple and gently wipe the surface. —Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 25 Feb. 2026

Soundtracking Case’s words are windswept arrangements and contagious melodies where baritone guitar, violin swells, and steady percussion crumple up feelings of dread and anxiety. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English crumplen, frequentative of Middle English crumpen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing crumple

• crumple zone
• face crumple

Kids Definition

crumple

verb

crum·​ple

ˈkrəm-pəl

crumpled; crumpling

-p(ə-)liŋ

1

: to press, bend, or crush out of shape

2

: to become crumpled

3

: collapse entry 1 sense 1