Synonyms of collapses

collapses 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of collapse

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

• tumbles
• goes
• crumples
• dies
• melts
• crumbles
• shatters
• gives
• implodes
• yields
• buckles
• crashes
• goes out
• fails
• breaks
• gives way
• founders
• flattens
• bursts
• pops
• smashes
• snaps
• cracks
• splits
• caves (in)
• deflates
• stalls
• breaks down
• melts down
• gives out
• splinters
• conks (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rises
• swells
• inflates

2

as in fails

to be unsuccessful

the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fails
• flops
• folds
• misses
• struggles
• bombs
• flunks
• tanks
• falls short
• strikes out
• falls flat
• declines
• comes to grief
• flames out
• lays an egg
• comes up empty
• crashes
• founders
• craters
• crumbles
• comes a cropper
• washes out
• slumps
• dies on the vine
• slips
• flounders
• falls on one's face
• wanes
• implodes
• skids
• miscarries
• sinks
• misfires
• goes under
• self-destructs

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• goes
• succeeds
• delivers
• works out
• comes off
• clicks
• goes over
• thrives
• flourishes
• prevails
• cooks
• wins
• pans out
• prospers
• triumphs

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

• compresses
• condenses
• squeezes
• consolidates
• constricts
• packs
• narrows (down)
• crams
• simplifies
• compacts
• contracts
• capsules
• constringes
• telescopes
• capsulizes
• shortens
• shrinks
• decreases
• curtails
• downsizes
• abbreviates
• jams
• boils down
• abridges
• diminishes
• jam-packs
• crowds
• streamlines
• concentrates
• lessens

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• expands
• opens
• decompresses
• dissipates
• disperses
• dilates
• scatters
• outstretches
• inflates
• swells
• outspreads
• distends

collapses

2 of 2

noun

plural of collapse

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

• defeats
• failures
• crashes
• fizzles
• setbacks
• croppers
• nonsuccesses
• nonachievements
• futilities
• deficiencies
• disappointments
• inadequacies
• insufficiencies
• ineffectualities
• inefficacies
• letdowns

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• achievements
• successes
• accomplishments
• victories
• wins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of collapses

Verb

Shunned by his own fans, spurned by the people who had previously cheered his every word, and ultimately left bellowing into the rafters of an echoing, empty mansion, Rhodes collapses into his own narcissistic madness. — Sasha Abramsky, Washington Post, 5 Nov. 2026

This results in a very large star, which eventually collapses to become an intermediate-mass black hole. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Nov. 2026

That contributed to a crazy final quarter that featured 10 drives, six total touchdowns and three touchdown passes from Cutforth to drag the Broncos away from one of the worst collapses in recent Boise State history. — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 1 Nov. 2026

Some songs are difficult to follow without lyric sheets in hand, and even then, the internal logic collapses, baiting you in with coherent ideas before going in another direction. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 29 Oct. 2026

The roots infiltrate through tiny joints or cracks, expand from inside, and the pipe collapses gradually. — Steven John, Architectural Digest, 29 Oct. 2026

The whole thing collapses into one decision made over and over. — Stephen Messer, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026

College homecoming party turns to chaos as deck collapses, leaving at least 28 people injured. — FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Whether the show builds on its already solid foundation or collapses in on itself will be fascinating to watch. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

Song suggested drones could assist civilian rescue teams during landslides, road collapses and floods. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Nov. 2026

While luxury brands dig in in Australia, their growth is at counterpoint to the angst of the local midtier retail sector, which has witnessed a series of high-profile collapses and voluntary administrations. — Patty Huntington, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

When the Gators aren’t generating pressure, the back end of the defense collapses, ranking in the bottom third nationally in pass defense. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

The county’s staff report warned that the deteriorating pipe could cause more ground collapses, damage nearby property and interfere with stormwater drainage. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026

With the conditions expected this year, coastal flooding, coastal erosion and landslides are likely, and more dramatic cliff collapses wouldn’t be a surprise, though every El Niño is different. — Gary Griggs, The Conversation, 21 Oct. 2026

In fact, the implementation of their promises resulted in one of the most severe economic and humanitarian collapses in modern history. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 21 Oct. 2026

Division 1 contenders Barring late-season collapses or major upsets, the Southern Section Division 1 playoff teams are looking pretty easy to identify. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026

The balcony of one of the beachfront homes is collapses into the sea. — Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026