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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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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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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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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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
With the Bears trailing the Steelers 17-14 in the fourth quarter, Ditka caught a short pass and broke eight tackles before collapsing to the turf after a 63-yard gain that set up the tying field goal. — Ira Kaufman, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 In the popular resort town Playa Venao, a multi-story building collapsed and crushed several cars beneath it. — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
Bangladesh‘s manufacturers, who have spent more than 13 years remediating factories since the Rana Plaza collapse and the birth of the original Accord, are increasingly pushing back against the framework’s direction. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 After the Dallas Cowboys’ collapse against the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers at home on Thursday night, the team will have a break this weekend to look in the mirror at some potential changes in all three phases. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 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
  • The main structures at the front (the spa, gym, studio, and reception) are made of natural stone with bougainvillea tumbling down their sides, set between shallow pools of water, echoing the floating effect of the resort above the mangroves.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Labor market shifts The US trucking industry is shaking off a nearly four-year downturn, a post-pandemic correction marked by tumbling freight rates, carrier bankruptcies, and a high-cost/tepid-volume operating environment.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • Since then, multiple efforts to phase out or ban horse carriages have failed.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The exchange of threats comes as Saudi Arabia investigates why its air defenses failed to intercept a barrage of missiles and drones fired by the Houthis.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of fail
Verb
  • Instead, the team fed the moment-by-moment activity of 332 brain regions into CEBRA, a machine-learning tool that compressed the data down to its essential structure while preserving the order of events.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The rapid earnings growth also has the effect of compressing multiples.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of compress
Noun
  • That’s likely to inspire either affection or immediate exhaustion, depending on your fondness for the infamously disgusting performance group.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • This summer, news reports revealed that multiple sailors had attempted to jump overboard amid shortages of fresh food, disruptions to hot water and laundry services and exhaustion.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhaustion
Noun
  • Donald played 35 snaps and made one tackle and had a quarterback hit in a defeat by the Denver Broncos but did not practice the following week.
    — Gary Klein, Los Angeles Times, 10 Oct. 2026
  • The man accepted defeat and slunk off, slurping, toward the Boulevard du Temple.
    — Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • Trailing the Brewers 2-0 in the best-of-seven series, the Dodgers desperately need to put themselves in the best possible position to win Game 3 and avoid four straight win-or-go-home contests.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • As a result of the fine, Treasury said that Bank of America will work with a third party to report any further transactions to FinCEN that had gone undetected.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • Miguel Vargas homered late for the White Sox, who flopped in their second straight bid to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since the 1906 World Series against the Chicago Cubs.
    — Sabrina Franza, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • All of this lends itself to a mid-single-digit opening at 2,200 theaters for Social Reckoning, perhaps around $8M (where Tom Cruise’s $160M Digger flopped).
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of flop
Verb
  • But in recent years, the shows have become money losers and the network TV business — faced with a decline in viewers that is squeezing profits — are cutting them loose.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • However, rising costs for housing, food, fuel and insurance coupled with cooling employment rends and the lowest consumer sentiment in a decade is squeezing discretionary spending.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 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 14 Oct. 2026.

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