1
as in tumbles
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 fails
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compresses
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
as in defeats
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 collapses
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
In it, a late-night talk show host, who is facing possible cancellation, collapses and dies on air, plunging the production into chaos.
—Angela Lian, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
But this explanation collapses under scrutiny.
—Yusuf Tuggar, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Another video recorded by straphangers aboard a train passing through the station shows the killer shove Dawodu, who collapses to the platform covered in blood.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
His muscles waste, his mind dulls, his body collapses inward until only a voice remains, thin and disembodied.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
At the end of the episode, Jackie collapses in her apartment.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Multiple Independence homeowners suffered structural damage, flooding or partial home collapses that week, including Manuel Ramirez and Michael Thomas, whose home was built in 1949.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Traffic pressure collapses the weakened pavement, forming a pothole.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2026
Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Even more distressing for the Knights is the program’s recent history of late-season collapses.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
But Biles and Chen bounced back from their collapses.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 15 Feb. 2026
In the new study, Bruzzone and his team focused on localized surface collapses that occur when sections of rock give way, creating skylight-like openings that can expose underground voids.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli because of poor building standards.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Any quarterback will struggle if their interior pocket collapses, but Darnold is a different player against pressure.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Retail leverage has dried up, and past collapses — from Terra to FTX — failed to infect traditional markets.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Battalion Chief Shawn Tacklind said crews were worried about interior collapses due to the damage from the fire.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
Later in the film, as Cristian’s father disappears for long stretches of time seeking temporary work, Cristian pulls out a child-sized onesie from the closet in Olga’s guest room; her face collapses, her reaction indicating some palpable trauma the filmmaker doesn’t deign to overexplain.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 18 Feb. 2026
In it, a late-night talk show host, who is facing possible cancellation, collapses and dies on air, plunging the production into chaos.
—Angela Lian, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
But this explanation collapses under scrutiny.
—Yusuf Tuggar, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
Another video recorded by straphangers aboard a train passing through the station shows the killer shove Dawodu, who collapses to the platform covered in blood.
—Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2026
His muscles waste, his mind dulls, his body collapses inward until only a voice remains, thin and disembodied.
—Gilberto Lopes, STAT, 12 Feb. 2026
At the end of the episode, Jackie collapses in her apartment.
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 Feb. 2026
Multiple Independence homeowners suffered structural damage, flooding or partial home collapses that week, including Manuel Ramirez and Michael Thomas, whose home was built in 1949.
—Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 11 Feb. 2026
Traffic pressure collapses the weakened pavement, forming a pothole.
—Cameron Knight, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
Power that relies on repetition collapses when the pattern is named.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 17 Feb. 2026
Even more distressing for the Knights is the program’s recent history of late-season collapses.
—Matt Murschel, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
But Biles and Chen bounced back from their collapses.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 15 Feb. 2026
In the new study, Bruzzone and his team focused on localized surface collapses that occur when sections of rock give way, creating skylight-like openings that can expose underground voids.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2026
Building collapses are not uncommon in Tripoli because of poor building standards.
—Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2026
Any quarterback will struggle if their interior pocket collapses, but Darnold is a different player against pressure.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Feb. 2026
Retail leverage has dried up, and past collapses — from Terra to FTX — failed to infect traditional markets.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026
Battalion Chief Shawn Tacklind said crews were worried about interior collapses due to the damage from the fire.
—Brandon Downs, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapses
Verb
-
Those records are only going to get worse with time as the team tumbles toward the draft lottery.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The ceremony turns into something reminiscent of the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, as the last keg tumbles down a nearby hill and the entire wedding party follows.—
Sarah Whitten,Sara Salinas,Sarah Jackson,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Pentagon is reportedly planning for the possibility of sustained weeks-long operations against Iran if diplomacy fails and the president opts to attack.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
If Congress fails to take any action before insolvency hits, Social Security benefits would be paid only with revenue that comes in.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In operation, the actuator compresses and holds the Ni-Ti tubes, causing the material to heat up.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Their terahertz microscope compresses long terahertz waves into a microscopic spot.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This rapid frequency of defeats could signal to some skeptics that Dallas has officially entered the league’s race of tanking.—
Mike Curtis,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Five of those six defeats have been by a single goal.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Lip Sleeping Mask in Sweet Candy is a bright fuchsia shade that goes perfectly with this sweet flavor.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Perhaps, the thinking goes, people just naturally agree on certain associations between shapes and sounds because of some innate feature of our brain or our world.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Nov. 2025
-
Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Without good ventilation, the warm steam cools and condenses on walls, floors, and other surfaces.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
-
This essentially condenses the air, forming clouds at the surface that could reduce visibility to less than a mile.—
Newsroom Meteorologist,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The city of Malibu sued the state and the city and county of Los Angeles and other entities on Wednesday, accusing them of various failures that led to the start and proliferation of the Palisades fire that destroyed hundreds of Malibu homes along with municipal facilities and infrastructure.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Federal regulators are shutting down more than 550 commercial driving schools nationwide after finding unqualified instructors, inadequate testing and other safety failures.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapses. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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