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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 5 June 2025
One of his proudest accomplishments was helping coordinate the dive crews searching for victims after the I-35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on Aug. 1, 2007, said Lisa Sjogren, his oldest daughter.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 5 June 2025
Emma Marris, The Atlantic, 25 May 2025
While many were expecting the Knicks to bounce back from their crushing collapse in Game 1, that was not the case.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
The Empire State Building might last 50 years longer, but eventually even these historic titans would collapse.
—Sarah Durn, Popular Science, 5 June 2025
One of his proudest accomplishments was helping coordinate the dive crews searching for victims after the I-35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on Aug. 1, 2007, said Lisa Sjogren, his oldest daughter.
—Mary Divine, Twin Cities, 5 June 2025
Noun
Forty-one percent of terrestrial American ecosystems are at risk of collapse, according to a 2023 report by NatureServe, a nonprofit that collects and analyzes data on biodiversity.
—Emma Marris, The Atlantic, 25 May 2025
While many were expecting the Knicks to bounce back from their crushing collapse in Game 1, that was not the case.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
-
They are tumbled together with protein-rich quinoa and then mounded over a bed of massaged kale.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
4 June 2025
-
Though a bright spot for Coty, valuations of beauty stocks are largely down, and Coty shares have tumbled 50% since last year.—
Sylvan Lebrun,
Forbes.com,
3 June 2025
Verb
-
But the consultants have also been asked to anticipate a scenario where the measure fails or doesn’t even go on the ballot.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
-
Real efforts at improving access — which many schools have adopted in recent years without enough attention earned — and promoting freer campus climates — which too many schools have failed at — will have to be done simultaneously.—
Jeffrey Herbst,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
Eventually, they were so thoroughly compressed that nuclear fusion got going—and boom, the very first stars lit up the universe.—
Robin George Andrews,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 May 2025
-
Costello neatly compressed the clichés of political pop.—
Armond White,
National Review,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
With ubiquity came a degree of creative exhaustion.—
Christopher Bonanos,
Curbed,
6 June 2025
-
Their temporary electronic face tattoo, or e-tattoo, can read brain waves and not only detect when the ol' gray matter is overworked, but also predict when exhaustion is approaching.—
Paul McClure
May 29,
New Atlas,
29 May 2025
Noun
-
Another way in which partisanship has brought us to this incipient defeat of the constitutional order is that the Congress has been rendered all but incompetent by faction.—
Chris Stirewalt,
The Hill,
30 May 2025
-
Perhaps the most revealing setback came in the 3-2 Copa del Rey final defeat by Barca.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Verb
-
What went right, what went wrong, and what are the prospects for Elon's mammoth rocket meeting NASA's goals for a moon landing in 2027?—
Space.com Staff,
Space.com,
31 May 2025
-
The bridge will go from two lanes to alternating traffic on Waterbury Road from June 5 to July 14, according to DOT.—
Sean Krofssik,
Hartford Courant,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
The company’s attempt at an autonomous vehicle also flopped.—
Shannon Carroll,
Quartz,
29 May 2025
-
The musical famously flopped upon its 1988 Broadway debut, closing after just 68 performances.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
In some towns, utility poles were removed so the caravans could squeeze through.—
Angela Jackson,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
Hundreds of people squeezed into the Jewish Community Center in Boulder, Colo., for a vigil that featured prayer, singing and emotional testimony from a victim and witnesses of the firebombing attack in the city’s downtown, after a federal judge blocked the deportation of the suspect’s family.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share