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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fail
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapse
Kif Leswing, CNBC, 27 June 2025
Haiti’s multifaceted crisis is also driven by a collapsing healthcare system, poor living conditions, and a lack of food security.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2025
Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2025
There was a partial roof collapse, and the investigators weren’t able to get back inside.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
Some of the companies are even publicly traded, and can see their stocks soar or collapse based on a kernel of news.
—Kif Leswing, CNBC, 27 June 2025
Haiti’s multifaceted crisis is also driven by a collapsing healthcare system, poor living conditions, and a lack of food security.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 27 June 2025
Noun
The bill is the Legislature’s third attempt since the 2021 collapse of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside to clarify safety measures imposed to prevent further catastrophes.
—Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel, 28 June 2025
There was a partial roof collapse, and the investigators weren’t able to get back inside.
—Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
-
The steps in a rehabilitation from injury or the buildup after time off are like dominoes in that one tumbles into the next.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 2025
-
Executives around the league wondered what would come next for the team that tumbled from the 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy champions to out of the playoffs.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
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In the corporate world, companies that fail to keep up with advances in hardware, software or technology platforms could face a different type of crisis: being at a competitive disadvantage in a challenging and demanding marketplace.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
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Renard was not the only one who failed to make the cut.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
Verb
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In theory, this could help spotlight Alto Adige’s remarkable vineyard diversity - granite slopes, volcanic porphyry, glacial moraines - all compressed into just under 6,000 hectares of fragmented vineyards, layered across extreme altitudes.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Burnout is a potential trade-off If your workload is heavy, compressing it into fewer days can backfire.—
Julia Sullivan,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
While other editors navigated the daily grind in a visible state of exhaustion, Wintour, with her signature bob, dark sunglasses, and famously enigmatic composure, cultivated an air of mystery and authority that few could emulate.—
Jeetendr Sehdev,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Now, there are signs of upside exhaustion to suggest that MSFT may soon relinquish its leadership stronghold.—
Katie Stockton,
CNBC,
30 June 2025
Noun
-
Calgary is coming off a defeat, however, having most recently fallen 20-12 to the previously 0-2 Ottawa Redblacks.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
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The reigning world champions had inflicted a 7-1 defeat on Portugal in April.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
Verb
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But the story goes a little something like this: Cheyenne, along with her two older brothers, was taken in by their great-grandparents after their mother lost custody.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
6 July 2025
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But everything depends on next weekend’s figures after the arrival of the first major box office threat, and the bigger the box office impact, the faster Jurassic World’s plans for a billion dollar summer may go extinct.—
Mark Hughes,
Forbes.com,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Staking helps protect tall or large-flowered dahlias from breakage and flopping over, especially after rain or strong wind.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 July 2025
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Some species will flop over when grown in rich soils.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Kalvin Phillips squeezes a pass through the gap and into Omari Hutchinson, taking three Forest players out of the game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
-
Marlene alleged her son grabbed and started to squeeze her throat.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 17 Jul. 2025.
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