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
-
Their chances of extending that record looked over after 16 minutes, though, when Diaz tumbled in the box after grappling with Kevin Akpoguma.—
Sebastian Stafford-Bloor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
At this point in his presidency four years ago, Democrat Joe Biden’s job rating was tumbling.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
9 Feb. 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
-
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
-
There’s a collective exhaustion with aggression, dominance being dressed up as confidence and leadership styles that demand sacrifice without offering sustainability.—
Kelly Ehlers,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2026
-
But six days into 2025, Peter Seidler’s widow contested control of the team in a lawsuit brought against her brothers-in-law, and manager Mike Shildt retired 11 days after the season ended, citing exhaustion, while many on his staff and in the front office had been exhausted by him.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 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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Substitutions will always be scrutinised by supporters when results go badly.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Michael Hicks weighs in on how a copy‑paste bill has lawmakers going after degrees Indiana doesn’t even offer in his latest op-ed.—
Kurtcia Collazo,
IndyStar,
9 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 12 Feb. 2026.
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