as in failing
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapsing
Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 7 May 2026
The problem is those roofs cannot go too low without the roof potentially collapsing, creating fire and explosion risks.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Brick buildings are among the deadliest types of structures in an earthquake, as walls collapsing outward can kill people walking on a sidewalk and even crush cars and buses with deadly force.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence in Iran, has been hospitalized in critical condition after collapsing and losing consciousness in jail.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 2 May 2026
At one point, city officials were working to keep the structure from collapsing, installing supports and fencing to hold it in place while long-term plans remained uncertain.
—J.m. Banks
may 1, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
After collapsing on their home floor in the second half of Game 5, the Celtics squandered another chance to close out the underdog Sixers on Thursday, losing 106-93 in Game 6 at Xfinity Mobile Arena to even the series at 3-3.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Concrete has been buttressed to prevent it from collapsing and crushing workers.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2026
There have been 22 reports of the stools collapsing with six injuries, including bruising and scrapes.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Verb
It was abandoned in 1961 and nature took its course, with brambles spreading and structures collapsing.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 7 May 2026
The problem is those roofs cannot go too low without the roof potentially collapsing, creating fire and explosion risks.
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Brick buildings are among the deadliest types of structures in an earthquake, as walls collapsing outward can kill people walking on a sidewalk and even crush cars and buses with deadly force.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who is currently serving an 18-year prison sentence in Iran, has been hospitalized in critical condition after collapsing and losing consciousness in jail.
—Anastasia Tsioulcas, NPR, 2 May 2026
At one point, city officials were working to keep the structure from collapsing, installing supports and fencing to hold it in place while long-term plans remained uncertain.
—J.m. Banks
may 1, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
After collapsing on their home floor in the second half of Game 5, the Celtics squandered another chance to close out the underdog Sixers on Thursday, losing 106-93 in Game 6 at Xfinity Mobile Arena to even the series at 3-3.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 1 May 2026
Concrete has been buttressed to prevent it from collapsing and crushing workers.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 30 Apr. 2026
There have been 22 reports of the stools collapsing with six injuries, including bruising and scrapes.
—Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 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
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Much of the discussion following the game is about flopping and supposed favorable whistles for the Thunder.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Suggs set the tone for the series in the opening quarter of Game 1, disrupting Pistons passes, sinking a pair of 3-pointers and belly-flopping to the floor to collect a loose basketball.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The coaches association wants to fix this by ending conference championship games and compressing the break between the end of the regular season and the start of the playoff.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
-
Machine learning has been around for compressing content to high-res content.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
Adjective
-
Most folding bookshelves are made from lightweight materials such as wood, bamboo or metal.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The three units feature the same folding action and design, but certain specs vary.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The company's revenue for the period was in-line with expectations, but weaker-than-expected operating income guidance for the current quarter sent shares tumbling.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Of My Own Making opens when, after a decade of productive therapy, Burke discovers a photo of the car accident that took her beloved grandmother’s life, and thirty years of unprocessed grief and trauma come tumbling out.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When Wagner was healthy in the first four games, Cunningham was still getting his points, but getting them inefficiently, struggling to find rhythm against Wagner’s length and discipline.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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After struggling in his first game back — which Boston won by 32 points to take a 3-1 series lead — the 2023 NBA MVP was a defining figure in Games 5, 6 and 7.—
Zack Cox,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Gas prices, housing costs and groceries are squeezing people who are working hard yet still falling behind.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
Prices for everything are higher, squeezing already tight budgets to the breaking point, with no end in sight.—
The Virginian Pilot And Daily Press Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsing. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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