as in failing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Badham had barely escaped another collapsing production, an early version of The Wiz starring Diana Ross, when producer Robert Stigwood suddenly called him in to take over what was then still called Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night, based on Nik Cohn’s famous New York magazine article.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
This new study of Little Red Dots by the JWST indicates that maybe supermassive black holes were born directly without needing a massive star to live for millions of years before collapsing to birth a stellar-mass black hole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 May 2026
The ruling has been criticized, however, for collapsing distinctions between hijras and transgender people.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
The ecological shock rippled ashore, collapsing the region’s $44 million red abalone fishery—once the largest in the world.
—Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026
But before any bodies of the missing can be recovered, crews on Wednesday must first stabilize the tank, which was at risk of collapsing further and leaking more of the caustic liquid.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Avoiding a repeating pattern of closures requires restoring the ability of salmon populations and their interconnected network of habitats to withstand droughts, heat waves and other environmental shocks without collapsing.
—Eric Palkovacs, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Seattle’s economy, far from collapsing, continued to boom.
—Nick Hanauer, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026
Verb
The dread moving through professional offices right now is the sound of that assumption collapsing.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026
Badham had barely escaped another collapsing production, an early version of The Wiz starring Diana Ross, when producer Robert Stigwood suddenly called him in to take over what was then still called Tribal Rites of the New Saturday Night, based on Nik Cohn’s famous New York magazine article.
—Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
This new study of Little Red Dots by the JWST indicates that maybe supermassive black holes were born directly without needing a massive star to live for millions of years before collapsing to birth a stellar-mass black hole.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 28 May 2026
The ruling has been criticized, however, for collapsing distinctions between hijras and transgender people.
—Charles Preston, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 May 2026
The ecological shock rippled ashore, collapsing the region’s $44 million red abalone fishery—once the largest in the world.
—Tatjana Baleta, Time, 28 May 2026
But before any bodies of the missing can be recovered, crews on Wednesday must first stabilize the tank, which was at risk of collapsing further and leaking more of the caustic liquid.
—ABC News, 27 May 2026
Avoiding a repeating pattern of closures requires restoring the ability of salmon populations and their interconnected network of habitats to withstand droughts, heat waves and other environmental shocks without collapsing.
—Eric Palkovacs, The Conversation, 26 May 2026
Seattle’s economy, far from collapsing, continued to boom.
—Nick Hanauer, The Atlantic, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapsing
Adjective
-
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
Verb
-
Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Late on, with the game already won, James Garner and substitute Merlin Rohl chased Enzo Fernandez, sending him crumpling to the turf.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Perhaps the poster child for the flopping phenomenon is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
For all the bright spots on Islands’ state champion soccer team, nothing shone brighter than its golden hairdos flopping around the pitch.—
Jack Leo,
AJC.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
CrowdStrike's 2025 Global Threat Report documented adversary breakout times falling to under 30 minutes, meaning the window between initial access and lateral movement inside a network keeps compressing.—
Michael George,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Users can upload large video projects, raw photo libraries, design assets, or full client deliverables without splitting files or compressing them first.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Complete your outdoor overhaul with more favorite patio furniture finds below, including a warm wooden deck box that doubles as a bench, a cocoon-like lounger that gently rocks, and a folding Adirondack chair that’s actually comfortable.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 May 2026
-
Their laundry room was filled with bright colors and ample folding space.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In the black and Carrara marble lobby, the vibe is modern and futuristic, with a cacophonous waterfall tumbling down the walls in a stream of fluorescent colors and a lone scarlet grand piano bringing a pleasing pop of color.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
-
Brent crude oil futures are more than 2% higher following the strikes, after tumbling 7% yesterday.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
Such records have drawn the interest of some people whose families are struggling with depression, suicide or other issues.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
-
But perhaps a move to the bullpen could help his performance and a team that is struggling to earn wins.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
After squeezing the game’s final out, first baseman Leyton MacPherson casually flipped the ball in the air, joined her teammate in a sprint toward Spangler, and gloves began flying.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
After a week of squeezing through the dangerous, mazelike cave network, divers Mikko Paasi and Norrased Palasing emerged from its muddy waters Wednesday to find a cause for hope.—
Alexander Smith,
NBC news,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsing. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
