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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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
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
Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2025
When the dam collapsed, his home was in the way of the floodwater.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Wasting their playoff standing, holding the top National League wild-card spot by a game over the San Diego Padres, would be an especially painful collapse given how well the Cubs played the first three months.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
White dwarfs are the dense remnants of stars like our sun that have exhausted their fuel supplies and collapsed into Earth-size objects.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 18 Aug. 2025
When the dam collapsed, his home was in the way of the floodwater.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
The German collapse in April 1945 allowed the Americans to survive.
—Foreign Affairs, 19 Aug. 2025
Wasting their playoff standing, holding the top National League wild-card spot by a game over the San Diego Padres, would be an especially painful collapse given how well the Cubs played the first three months.
—Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
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In mid-May, at about ten thousand feet above sea level, a rocky mountainside in the Swiss Alps gave way and tumbled onto a field of ice called the Birch Glacier.—
Daniel A. Gross,
New Yorker,
27 Aug. 2025
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Just hours after Strand Larsen’s tumbling finish was followed by a towering header to turn a 2-1 deficit into a place in the third round, Wolves rejected a second bid worth £55million ($74m) for the giant No 9.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Preliminary findings of an investigation by the Department of Transportation (DOT) revealed that, when questioned following the accident, the driver failed assessments on his English language proficiency as well as his understanding of highway traffic rules.—
Hugh Cameron,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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Lazar is healthy again, and Kapanen provided a spark and could slide into a more prominent role if one of the rookie wingers fails.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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With dry powder and capital commitments accelerating, competition has intensified — spreads are compressing, and investors are asking: Where does the real edge come from now?—
Rocio Wu,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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Multiple doctors recommended that White get surgery to remove part of the bone that was compressing her nerves.—
Aria Bendix,
NBC news,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Overworking can actually lead to diminishing returns, where exhaustion causes mistakes and reduces efficiency.—
Kent Ingle,
Forbes.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, common symptoms of Valley fever include: Cough Fever Pain in the chest Fatigue or a constant feeling of exhaustion Who is most at risk for Valley fever? Valley fever gets its name from California’s San Joaquin Valley.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Also in 2021: The Cubs set a franchise record with the team’s 13th consecutive home loss in a 9-1 defeat at the hands of the Kansas City Royals at Wrigley Field.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Aug. 2025
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The 1-0 defeat served as the final test event before Everton’s new 52,769-capacity home, situated on Liverpool’s waterfront, opens for competitive action this weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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George Springer helped lead Toronto’s offense, going 3 for 6 with a solo homer, a double and an RBI single.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
24 Aug. 2025
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Peter Aiken/Getty Images Footage of the incident has since gone viral and circulated online, drawing widespread attention and sparking discussion among fans and analysts around the team and its players.—
Cecil Merkerson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Aug. 2025
Verb
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One more common mistake: Fertilizing your lavender, which can result in overly leggy lavender that flops over.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
21 Aug. 2025
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Fisher flopped at Texas A&M and walked away with the largest buyout in college football history — $77.5 million — without ever even reaching the College Football Playoff while in College Station.—
Chase Goodbread,
The Tennessean,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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They have been squeezed at both ends: preparation curtailed by a post-season Club World Cup, but also a transfer deadline that caused deep uncertainty over the future of several players, as well as the size of squad Guardiola will have to manage.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
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When the dry season comes, that sponge is slowly squeezed.—
John Meyer,
Denver Post,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 1 Sep. 2025.
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