1
as in to tumble
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the motel balcony collapsed under the weight of so many people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fail
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
the novel collapses events from four separate trips into one long odyssey
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exhaustion
a complete depletion of energy or strength
suffered a mental collapse under the strain of studying for his bar exam
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2
as in defeat
a falling short of one's goals
the complete collapse of the invasion set off a round of finger-pointing and recrimination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapse
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
Those talks collapsed in 2015, leading to crackdowns against the pro-Kurdish party, which has been accused by the Turkish government of having links to the PKK and its affiliates.
—Gul Tuysuz, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 11 July 2025
When people become cold and distrustful of one another, the notion of the common good collapses.
—Nathan Meyers, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
Horse racing in Northern California has collapsed, leaving Southern California’s Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos tracks as the only venues in the state.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
Those talks collapsed in 2015, leading to crackdowns against the pro-Kurdish party, which has been accused by the Turkish government of having links to the PKK and its affiliates.
—Gul Tuysuz, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Noun
Now, season three is raising the stakes by bringing in the most relatable thing the show has done — the threat of the total collapse of civilization.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 11 July 2025
When people become cold and distrustful of one another, the notion of the common good collapses.
—Nathan Meyers, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
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One option could be to 'tumble' the regolith, turning it over repeatedly so that the heat is more evenly applied, but this slows the extraction of water and increases the mechanical complexity of the process.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 July 2025
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Still, the episode sent stock prices tumbling and bond yields climbing, until Trump’s disavowal restored calm to the markets.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 July 2025
Verb
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The agency failed to answer thousands of calls from flood survivors after allowing contracts for call-center workers to lapse one day after the disaster, according to The New York Times.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
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Last July, when the blade failed, foam fiberglass and other debris settled to the ocean floor, entered the water table and littered Nantucket beaches for months.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
Verb
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It's considered lossless to the eye, but the signal is actually compressed at a 3:1 ratio.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 July 2025
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However, extreme space weather events may compress – or in some cases, peel back – the Earth’s magnetic shield.—
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti,
The Conversation,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
The result can feel like exhaustion, even when the change is welcome.—
Inga Bielińska,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Just three years ago, voters recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin, amid mounting exhaustion with progressive criminal justice policies.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Sunday’s defeat capped a roller-coaster first half in which the Yankees jumped out to a 42-25 record, only to follow with a 6-16 skid that included two separate six-game losing streaks.—
Peter Sblendorio,
Hartford Courant,
13 July 2025
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And moments of a 3-2 defeat to the Sounders showed the gap between where KC is at compared to the true competitors in the league.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
13 July 2025
Verb
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The story goes that the robbery occurred in broad daylight while occupants of Villa Nellcôte watched TV, having reportedly been conducted by Marseille drug dealers that Richards was said to have owed money to.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
15 July 2025
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The action by the state legislature, set to go into effect in 2026, has already led Scott to completely reshape the business model of what has been 7 Point Farm and Apothecary, formerly in the Midway Center on Lebanon Road.—
Maria Leontaras,
The Tennessean,
15 July 2025
Verb
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However, tall varieties, which can reach 5 feet in height, should be staked to keep them upright and prevent them from flopping over nearby plants.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
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During Fan Expo Denver, Fraser gave his take on why the follow-up flopped, per Collider.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Kalvin Phillips squeezes a pass through the gap and into Omari Hutchinson, taking three Forest players out of the game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
Marlene alleged her son grabbed and started to squeeze her throat.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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