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
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Recent Examples of collapse
Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
That was the month Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX crypto exchange collapsed, taking with it billions in people’s savings.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But in the days and weeks afterward, an explanation for his regime’s collapse began to gain currency.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
Eric Lee, an immigration attorney who has represented families at Dilley, described a child suffering from appendicitis who collapsed in pain after having been denied meaningful medical attention.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 6 Feb. 2026
That was the month Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX crypto exchange collapsed, taking with it billions in people’s savings.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
However, Horton’s downfall, amid the collapse of the downtown office market, appears distinct from the Spreckels Building situation.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
But in the days and weeks afterward, an explanation for his regime’s collapse began to gain currency.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
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But as the pandemic subsided and many workers returned to in-person roles, Zoom’s stock has tumbled from its highs.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, approval of his handling of immigration — long a political asset for the president and the GOP — has tumbled.—
Steven Sloan,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The lawsuits allege all responsible for the balcony's upkeep failed to make the proper repairs prior to the collapse.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
7 Feb. 2026
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Morato also failed to connect with a golden opportunity to pull a goal back, shortly before Lorenzo Lucca finally did.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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As return rates remain elevated, margins compress and fraud tactics grow more sophisticated, retailers are being forced to rethink how reverse logistics fits into their broader business strategy.—
Sourcing Journal,
Sourcing Journal,
6 Feb. 2026
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In operation, the actuator compresses and holds the Ni-Ti tubes, causing the material to heat up.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Over the past several years, Iranians have repeatedly risen in the streets to oppose the regime, driven by a complete exhaustion of tolerance for the Islamic Republic.—
Shahrnush Parsipur,
Time,
3 Feb. 2026
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When navigation is intentional, students earn credits faster, miss fewer days, and experience less emotional exhaustion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Stafford also engineered late game-winning drives in playoff victories over the Carolina Panthers and the Chicago Bears before the Rams suffered a 31-27 defeat by the Seahawks in the NFC championship.—
Gary Klein,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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Seattle bounced back from a defeat against the Ducks at Honda Center 24 hours earlier that snapped a four-game win streak.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Several recent special elections have gone well for Democrats, including a win in Virginia in September 2025.—
Kate Perez,
USA Today,
2 Feb. 2026
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After a skirmish, Pretti escaped from the officer and went toward the crowd.—
Hailey Bullis,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Chiefs flopped in free agency and didn’t act quickly enough in a draft that had running back depth.—
Sam McDowell
February 5,
Kansas City Star,
5 Feb. 2026
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Baby Briana’s arms twitched and legs flopped against cold concrete.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Impacciatore, squeezed into a skin-tight Power Rangers suit, performed an entire clowning routine where she’s accosted by abstract embodiments of various winter sports throughout history.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
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Sometimes, producers work with players to squeeze their take into the allotted time.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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