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
Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
For a few weeks every March, American productivity collapses into a blur of fake doctor’s appointments and furtive glances at phones under conference tables as the NCAA’s annual basketball tournament subsumes the culture.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 31 Mar. 2026
If the Islamic Republic collapses, or—perhaps worse for Putin—strikes a deal with Washington, Russia loses its last significant partner along the entire arc from the Mediterranean to the Caspian.
—Joseph Epstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In just the past month, the island has suffered several total power grid collapses that left Havana and other cities in the dark.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
As the operation collapses into violence and betrayal his only way out is to keep flying.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Trump has alluded to this possible dearth of popular support when asked about the possibility of backing Pahlavi to lead the country if the regime collapses.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
That argument collapses under the slightest scrutiny.
—Randy Linville, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
Nobody knows who might get it if Iran’s government collapses.
—Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
But fears spiked at the end of last year after the high-profile collapses of First Brands, an auto parts manufacturer, and Tricolor, a subprime auto lender, called attention to significant fraud and weakness in the sector.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
In the Santiago de Cuba province, housing damage was particularly severe, with 95,000 homes affected, 2,300 total collapses, and 6,000 complete roof failures.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Building collapses are common in Nairobi, where housing is in high demand and unscrupulous developers often bypass regulations or simply violate building codes.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Homogeneous teams miss these fault lines until systems break — or trust collapses — often after damage has already been done.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
The study found that, as the frequency of GNTW increases, emotional attachment to clothing collapses.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2026
The settlement agreement called for Encinitas to increase public awareness about the risks of bluff collapses, including posting new signage and providing additional training for beach lifeguards.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Ownership struggles, wars, economic collapses, and the ever-evolving tribulations of the automotive business brought constant change.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
That was one of our very strong stakes in the ground, to have a nuclear meltdown where the mountain collapses and Sinatra sacrifices herself.
—Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
For a few weeks every March, American productivity collapses into a blur of fake doctor’s appointments and furtive glances at phones under conference tables as the NCAA’s annual basketball tournament subsumes the culture.
—Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 31 Mar. 2026
If the Islamic Republic collapses, or—perhaps worse for Putin—strikes a deal with Washington, Russia loses its last significant partner along the entire arc from the Mediterranean to the Caspian.
—Joseph Epstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
In just the past month, the island has suffered several total power grid collapses that left Havana and other cities in the dark.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
As the operation collapses into violence and betrayal his only way out is to keep flying.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
Trump has alluded to this possible dearth of popular support when asked about the possibility of backing Pahlavi to lead the country if the regime collapses.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026
That argument collapses under the slightest scrutiny.
—Randy Linville, Baltimore Sun, 18 Mar. 2026
Nobody knows who might get it if Iran’s government collapses.
—Matthew Bunn, The Conversation, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
These are firms that have survived recessions, world wars, colonial collapses, and technological revolutions.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
But fears spiked at the end of last year after the high-profile collapses of First Brands, an auto parts manufacturer, and Tricolor, a subprime auto lender, called attention to significant fraud and weakness in the sector.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Mar. 2026
In the Santiago de Cuba province, housing damage was particularly severe, with 95,000 homes affected, 2,300 total collapses, and 6,000 complete roof failures.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Building collapses are common in Nairobi, where housing is in high demand and unscrupulous developers often bypass regulations or simply violate building codes.
—ABC News, 16 Mar. 2026
Homogeneous teams miss these fault lines until systems break — or trust collapses — often after damage has already been done.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 15 Mar. 2026
The study found that, as the frequency of GNTW increases, emotional attachment to clothing collapses.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Mar. 2026
The settlement agreement called for Encinitas to increase public awareness about the risks of bluff collapses, including posting new signage and providing additional training for beach lifeguards.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Ownership struggles, wars, economic collapses, and the ever-evolving tribulations of the automotive business brought constant change.
—James Raia, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapses
Verb
-
The video shows the plane colliding with the truck, going over the vehicle, which tumbles beneath the jet.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
There's something so timeless and romantic about hair that almost audibly tumbles down one's back.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But, elsewhere in Cook County, property taxes are what school districts must turn to when the state fails to support public education at the level most other states do.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Then, an ultrasound mid-way through pregnancy showed that her baby had anencephaly, a fatal condition in which the skull fails to develop properly.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The back line compresses space, the midfield disrupts passing lanes and Ferree has commanded his box with composure beyond his years.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Most have a double-zipper system, with one zipper to close the cube and a second zipper that compresses it to a fraction of its full size.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
In the wake of Republican defeats in a string of special elections − including a Democratic victory in the Florida state house race to represent the president's home district − the record-setting protests were one more omen of upheaval ahead in November's midterm elections.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Two of America’s largest tech companies suffered stunning defeats in court this week, sustaining early jolts in what could prove to be a seismic shift in how social media operates amid a new landscape of legal risk.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Guzman knocks on the door, then goes behind a pillar.—
Zach Boetto,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Hence, as the thinking goes, Zendaya’s thrall-like popularity with Gen Z and millennial viewers will act as an antidote to bad buzz.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 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
-
Due to extra off days in April, the Yankees will begin the season with a four-man starting staff but plan to re-incorporate Gil in the rotation once the schedule condenses.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The network does not air the BAFTAs live, but edits and condenses the three-hour show into a two-hour program to be broadcast later.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
When a series of tragic failures at New Era Community Health Center left scores of the county’s weakest, poorest and most erratic residents in danger, Florida health inspectors took the unusual step of threatening to shut down the home.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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In 2023, the number dropped significantly, even as supervision failures within jails persisted, down to 63.—
Ryan Oehrli
April 1,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapses. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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