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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fail
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
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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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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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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
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Recent Examples of collapse
Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 13 May 2025
The United States could see a hemorrhaging hospitality industry lose up to $12.5 billion in international travel tourism dollars this year, collapsing to $169 billion from $181 billion in 2024, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
—Kevin Williams, Quartz, 13 May 2025
Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Cause of the collapse revealed Over many decades, certain load-bearing piers – which are vertical structural components used to bear weight and help distribute it – had begun to deteriorate because they were not properly connected during initial construction.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
Before Carrier’s tangle of fraudulent loans collapsed and was exposed in court, there were signs of trouble.
—Anjeanette Damon, ProPublica, 13 May 2025
The United States could see a hemorrhaging hospitality industry lose up to $12.5 billion in international travel tourism dollars this year, collapsing to $169 billion from $181 billion in 2024, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.
—Kevin Williams, Quartz, 13 May 2025
Noun
Symptoms include brown-ringed leaf spots, dark stem cankers or zones of dead/dying tissue, and eventually, the collapse of plants in entire sections of a mass grouping.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Cause of the collapse revealed Over many decades, certain load-bearing piers – which are vertical structural components used to bear weight and help distribute it – had begun to deteriorate because they were not properly connected during initial construction.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
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In the first quarter, national trucking volumes tumbled 13.8 percent from the year prior, the best year-over-year reading since the third quarter of 2023, according to the quarterly U.S. Bank Freight Payment Index.—
Glenn Taylor,
Sourcing Journal,
8 May 2025
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That news sent Alphabet’s stock tumbling 8%, and for good reason: Now, an era where Google remains the default search engine is far from guaranteed.—
Quartz Staff,
Quartz,
8 May 2025
Verb
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Even though the measure failed in Bensenville, at least 163 communities around the state have recently enacted local grocery taxes.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2025
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That effort cost Obama's party control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans failed in their own bids to repeal the law.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
Verb
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The potatoes are cooked low and slow in the oven, then compressed overnight.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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Rising interest rates have compressed valuations, rotating investor appetite toward value, dividends, and defensive plays.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The cost of this mental churning extends beyond personal exhaustion.—
Melody Wilding,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
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In addition to exhaustion and dehydration, mountaineers can also find themselves at risk of avalanches, hypothermia and falling.—
Amy Woodyatt,
CNN Money,
13 May 2025
Noun
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Local disaster for Dutton compounds national defeat Dutton not only lost the national contest, but was also ousted from his own seat in the northeastern state of Queensland, in a shock defeat to Labor’s Ali France.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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Arteta did not disclose the exact nature of the problem but explained Timber, 23, was missing from the matchday squad for the weekend’s Premier League fixture due to a knock picked up in the first leg defeat against the Ligue 1 champions on Tuesday.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
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The main reason the studios and independents go abroad to shoot is money.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 May 2025
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So how did Combs go from wearing a glamorous bespoke white suit on the steps of the Met Gala a few years back to now being allocated 20 pieces of clothing he's permitted to wear at a courthouse just 5 miles away?—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
Verb
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Unless Hairston flops, boundary cornerback will be the least of their draft concerns for a long time.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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But both his WrestleMania 41 main event against Rhodes and his character arc since his heel turn have completely flopped.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Custom Container Living View 8 Images Custom Container Living has transformed a shipping container into an ultra-compact tiny house that squeezes a home for two into just 160 sq ft (14.8 sq m).—
Adam Williams
May 08,
New Atlas,
8 May 2025
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Officials hope that increased lending and spending will help ease deflationary pressures that have dragged down prices, squeezed company profits, and weakened consumer confidence.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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