collapse 1 of 2

verb

kə-ˈlaps How to pronounce collapse (audio)
Definition of collapsenext
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

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2
as in to fail
to be unsuccessful the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence

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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

collapse

2 of 2

noun

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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.
Recent Examples of collapse
Verb
As Galarza and Olise faced up in an altercation, Olise pulled the Paraguayan’s jersey, but Galarza collapsed to the floor holding his face. — Adam Crafton, New York Times, 5 July 2026 Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 July 2026
Noun
Thus, with gravity the ultimate winner of this cosmic tug of war, the star's core collapses, sending violent shockwaves rippling outward into the outer stellar layers, which are ripped away. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 10 July 2026 Initial reports from the Reynolds County Sheriff's Office indicated 10 to 17 individuals, who were on the roof awaiting rescue, may have entered the water as a result of the collapse. — Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 10 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
  1. tumble
  2. fail
  3. compress
  4. exhaustion
  5. defeat
  6. go
  7. flop
  8. squeeze
Verb
  • This mixture is pushed through an extruder to form tiny, sprinkle-like cylinders, which are then tumbled in a rapidly spinning chamber to round them into near-spherical particles.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 10 July 2026
  • Spectrum launched for the first time in March 2025, from Europe's Andøya Spaceport in Norway, but the rocket began to tumble shortly after clearing the tower and fell back to Earth in a fiery explosion.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 10 July 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • After the talks ultimately failed to result in a deal, Newsom endorsed the idea of a national wealth tax instead.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Past attempts at versions of devolution in England have likewise failed to rouse excitement.
    — Ian King, CNBC, 8 July 2026
Definition of fail
Verb
  • The night sky reflected in still water can look more dramatic than the sky itself because reflections compress and simplify structure.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 July 2026
  • And that’s on top of allegedly deleting or compressing billions of logs that should have been preserved.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
Definition of compress
Noun
  • According to Ferreiro, structured breaks can improve cognitive performance and help reduce the risk of emotional exhaustion.
    — Ana Morales, Vogue, 11 July 2026
  • Anger, isolation, and exhaustion are endemic to each tennis era, as much a part of the game as the fuzz on the balls.
    — Josh Levin, The Atlantic, 9 July 2026
Definition of exhaustion
Noun
  • Two points away from defeat, Ivanisevic rallies to beat Rafter 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 9-7 and becomes the second player to win a Wimbledon singles title without being seeded.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026
  • That film culminated in the brutal defeat of House Atreides by rival House Harkonnen, with Paul and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), fleeing to the desert and taking refuge among the Fremen.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • News of his death – one example of the political violence roiling America in recent years – quickly went global, with graphic videos flooding social media and politicians on both sides of the aisle swiftly condemning the killing.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • Leo Jimenez also went deep for the Marlins, who set a franchise record with 12 homers for a three-game series.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • Brown has talked trash about Sixers center Joel Embiid and has accused him of flopping.
    — Mark Medina, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Video shows Neil flopping his blubbery body around on the street, destroying fences and cuddling with traffic cones.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of flop
Verb
  • The result is a new generation of patients planning trips around treatments rather than squeezing appointments into an existing vacation.
    — Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • With inflation squeezing their margins and rideshare platforms demanding a large share of their earnings, a driver’s split-second decision to accept a fare is a high-stakes calculation of business survival.
    — Christopher S. Tang, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
Definition of squeeze

Browse Nearby Words

collages
collapse
collapsed
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Cite this Entry

“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of collapse for Spanish Speakers

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