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 a small Catholic community in Boise, Idaho, was preparing for the Christmas season in December 1982, a man sitting in the back of the church collapsed. — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026 In reality, there are no heroes and no glory, only worlds that collapse and dreams that shatter. — Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Noun
The collapse of Brazilian bank Banco Master has reached across the political establishment, including the Supreme Court, just weeks before the vote. — Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026 For Europe, Ukraine’s collapse would create a security threat far greater than the cost of replacing transformers or financing fuel imports. — Tatiana Mitrova, Foreign Affairs, 23 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 chorus broke open with two major chords, and the two people fumbled their way down the hall in the story while the musical progression tumbled downward, along with the protagonist’s self-respect.
    — Tom Roland, Billboard, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The call followed the release of solid financial results for the July-to-September quarter, though lower fourth-quarter and full-year guidance spooked investors and sent Netflix shares tumbling in after-hours trading.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • The controversy emphasized how California, where shelters are overflowing with animals, failed to regulate private rescue groups.
    — Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • However, these efforts have so far failed to significantly alter investor perception.
    — , CNBC, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of fail
Verb
  • By adjusting the distance between the tips, the team could stretch or compress the molecular structure, changing the voltage at which the current enhancement began.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 24 Oct. 2026
  • For everyday document management, AcePDF can merge or split files, rotate or delete pages, compress large PDFs, and extract images.
    — StackCommerce Team, PC Magazine, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of compress
Noun
  • Security by exhaustion The internet is held together with shoestring and bubblegum.
    — David Goldman, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Change fatigue is a state of exhaustion workers may experience after going through many changes at their employer.
    — Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhaustion
Noun
  • Trump can’t let Iran turn a military defeat into a diplomatic victory.
    — , FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
  • After allocating about 8% of GDP to NEOM, once contract cancellations are included, the government has admitted a costly defeat.
    — Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of defeat
Verb
  • Since then, the Buffaloes have gone 18-26, including a 9-4 effort from a 2024 roster that including his son Shedeur Sanders, who is now with the Cleveland Browns, and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, now with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
    — Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
  • Pat Dowell, 3rd, and others have called the session for Monday to have the council clarify that the $75 million will go toward the city’s pensions now.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of go
Verb
  • Because the flopping infraction carries no suspension, George remains fully cleared to suit up Friday when Boston hosts his former team, the Philadelphia 76ers.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The importance of competition There are three specific reasons why vote buying usually flops.
    — Kenneth Greene, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of flop
Verb
  • For hungry Southerners trying to squeeze a meal into their lunch breaks, that’s a major blunder.
    — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Push through the soles of your feet and squeeze your glutes to drive your hips upward.
    — Jenessa Connor, HEALTH, 26 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 29 Oct. 2026.

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