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
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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
K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
This one shows Peter Parker, out of costume, collapsing.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Those arches are long gone, collapsing over the centuries from earthquakes and unstable ground.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The policy change comes as Cuba grapples with a collapsing energy grid and bouts of public protest.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Institutional trust is collapsing across the board.
—Ariel David, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
In fact, the franchise got a second, arguably more important, victory in the 63rd minute when defender Savy King came off the bench to play for the first time since collapsing on the same field 10 months ago.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Water and electricity are hard to come by, and the medical system is collapsing.
—Michael Butler, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
The traditional music business was collapsing, as the internet cut into CD sales while letting listeners elevate their own niche idols.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
Sloshing out from the inaccessible hearts of collapsing stars and from the tumultuous spacetime churnings of merging black holes and neutron stars, gravitational waves provide deep, fundamental insights about these faraway astrophysical systems that are otherwise unavailable.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
This one shows Peter Parker, out of costume, collapsing.
—Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 17 Mar. 2026
Those arches are long gone, collapsing over the centuries from earthquakes and unstable ground.
—ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
The policy change comes as Cuba grapples with a collapsing energy grid and bouts of public protest.
—Joe Walsh, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026
Institutional trust is collapsing across the board.
—Ariel David, Baltimore Sun, 16 Mar. 2026
In fact, the franchise got a second, arguably more important, victory in the 63rd minute when defender Savy King came off the bench to play for the first time since collapsing on the same field 10 months ago.
—Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 16 Mar. 2026
Water and electricity are hard to come by, and the medical system is collapsing.
—Michael Butler, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
The traditional music business was collapsing, as the internet cut into CD sales while letting listeners elevate their own niche idols.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 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
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The Material steak knives arrived sharp, slicing through a piece of paper rather than crumpling its edge.—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
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Kamau fading, then lunging, then crumpling to the pavement at the line.—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Girlfriend scales the diaristic, bric-a-brac charm of Janky Star into a high-drama pop monument to trying, flopping, and trying even harder next time.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
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Cutting stems back by one-third their height will help plants resist flopping under the weight of the flowers.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That pressure pushes down on the air underneath it, compressing and heating it.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
-
The software includes editing tools for inserting text, annotating, merging, splitting, compressing, and watermarking PDFs.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The three units feature the same folding action and design, but certain specs vary.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Malott’s grandfather had always kept a beat-up old oak bi-folding table behind the counter.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Oil prices, which rallied on Tuesday after tumbling in the prior session, resumed their slide and were last down 6%.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
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The token has been volatile since the conflict in Iran began in late February, at one point jumping to a high of nearly $76,000 before tumbling once more as tensions in the region escalated.—
Emily Nicolle,
Fortune,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Governments across the continent are struggling with stubborn insurgencies.—
Obi Anyadike,
semafor.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Sunday was a busy day at Logan Airport as TSA agents continue to work without pay during the partial government shutdown, though waits remained lower than many struggling with long lines around the country.—
Paul Burton,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Not just reserved for jack-o-lanterns and lattes, pumpkin, more specifically, the oil that comes from roasting, grinding, and squeezing the seeds, is trending as an ingredient that can be beneficial for your scalp and hair.—
Mykenna Maniece,
Vogue,
19 Mar. 2026
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Top with basil leaves and serve with cooked rice on the side and lime wedges for squeezing over.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsing. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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