collapsing 1 of 2

adjective

as in failing

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

collapsing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of collapse
1
as in crumpling
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flopping
to be unsuccessful the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compressing
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of collapsing
Verb
With the Bears trailing the Steelers 17-14 in the fourth quarter, Ditka caught a short pass and broke eight tackles before collapsing to the turf after a 63-yard gain that set up the tying field goal. — Ira Kaufman, HollywoodReporter, 9 Oct. 2026 Merging with a magnetar All neutron stars are created the same way from the collapsing core of a massive star, but not all neutron stars are equal. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Oct. 2026 Mercedes then pursued the fleeing attackers on foot for about two blocks before collapsing near East 206th Street and Rochambeau Avenue. — Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026 The Grey’s Anatomy alum’s wife, Jenisa Garland, died in May 2025, after collapsing suddenly. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Oct. 2026 The cost of creating plausible false identities is collapsing. — Joao Gomes, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026 The public must contend head-on with a collapsing currency and runaway inflation, and to ordinary Iranians, describing the present situation as sustainable would sound almost obscene. — Ali Vaez, Foreign Affairs, 29 Sep. 2026 Satterley’s death comes just a few weeks after another AEW wrestler, Andy Williams, known professionally as The Butcher, died after collapsing at an independent match in Pennsylvania, according to AEW. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026 But with the team collapsing down the stretch, that shrank to one game heading into the regular-season finale. — Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapsing
  1. failing
  2. crumpling
  3. flopping
  4. compressing
  5. folding
  6. tumbling
  7. struggling
  8. squeezing
Adjective
  • The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Criminal Court, which all got failing grades in last year's survey, saw the biggest gains.
    — Andrea Shalal, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
    — Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Jan. 2026
Definition of failing
Verb
  • But Mulderrig’s red Harley-Davidson Sportster slammed into the rear passenger side of Oates’ Cadillac, crumpling the back corner and twisting the wheel out of shape.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Euphoric players cavorting in disbelief, long-suffering fans crumpling to their knees in tears, commentators’ voices cracking at the drama of it all.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of crumpling
Verb
  • The tall foliage of bearded iris (Iris germanica) begins flopping early in the growing season.
    — Marie Iannotti, The Spruce, 22 Sep. 2026
  • The fish looks straight at me, flopping sluggishly from side to side.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of flopping
Verb
  • Neither fixes a demand-capture channel when demand capture itself is what’s compressing.
    — Gaetano Romeo, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Filmmakers routinely take license in adapting books — compressing timelines, combining characters and more.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of compressing
Adjective
  • Apple already offers this feature on non-folding iPhones, but those devices must be plugged in and propped up on their side.
    — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2026
  • During the event, Ternus also introduced the latest version of the company’s non-folding smartphone, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which start at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of folding
Verb
  • The main structures at the front (the spa, gym, studio, and reception) are made of natural stone with bougainvillea tumbling down their sides, set between shallow pools of water, echoing the floating effect of the resort above the mangroves.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Labor market shifts The US trucking industry is shaking off a nearly four-year downturn, a post-pandemic correction marked by tumbling freight rates, carrier bankruptcies, and a high-cost/tepid-volume operating environment.
    — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of tumbling
Verb
  • Mitchell-Namdar said Pink Aid’s mission is to provide emergency aid assistance to those struggling during treatment, whether that means paying an electric bill, rent, offering wigs or lymphedema sleeves.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Many mid- and late-career working-class comics who would normally build the bridge to younger generations are struggling to make a living.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • Instead, Israel's military has expanded its control to roughly 70% of Gaza, squeezing more than 2 million Palestinians near the sea's edge.
    — Anas Baba, NPR, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Kyiv's retaliatory attacks mean Russian exports are now also stuck, further squeezing global supply.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeezing

Browse Nearby Words

collapses
collapsing
collar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Collapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsing. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of nexus

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All