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
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
The collapse in the price of CoreWeave stock has dragged down the entire tech sector in the last couple of days, and focused investors’ minds on the risks attached to AI. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Near daily protests rattled Vucic more than ever and protesters forced a government collapse as student rallies drew hundreds of thousands of people. — ABC News, 16 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 tech-heavy index posted its worst decline since July on Wednesday, as shares of companies involved in the AI buildout, including chipmakers, tumbled.
    — Hanna Ziady, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026
  • This week's losses have placed the S&P 500 and Nasdaq in negative territory week to date, as the former has fallen nearly 1% in the period, while the latter has tumbled more than 2%.
    — Justina Lee,Sean Conlon, CNBC, 15 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
  • How the whiplash is different now Now, the time frame is being compressed.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Full resolution can use a lot more storage There is a reason photo-sharing services have compressed images for years.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of compress
Noun
  • Abrams does yeoman’s work with a character stuck in a tight spot for most of the running time, constantly grunting and gasping with a mixture of anguish and exhaustion as his body gets progressively more beat up and broken.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Tina testified for an hour before fainting from exhaustion, returning later that day for a second round of questioning.
    — Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of exhaustion
Noun
  • Abiy's office accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement and said that the latest fighting ended in its defeat.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Abiy’s office accused the TPLF of obstructing the agreement and said the latest fighting ended in its defeat.
    — Khaled Kazziha, Los Angeles Times, 16 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 18 Oct. 2026.

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