collapsing 1 of 2

adjective

as in failing

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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

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

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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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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
Scientists have discovered that copper melts gradually rather than collapsing all at once under extreme heat. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026 Videos posted to social media showed buildings collapsing and panicked residents running and screaming, as dust filled the sky. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 The live stream promises boundless access and constant visibility, collapsing the boundary between the real and the performed, the private and the public, until living a life and broadcasting one become virtually indistinguishable. — Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 12 Aug. 2026 Child psychologists say the screaming, kicking, floor-collapsing moments that define the toddler years are a normal part of emotional development, and knowing what drives your child’s meltdown can change how the whole family gets through them. — Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026 He’s really getting worked over until a collapsing building separates them. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 Gallegos described seeing walls collapsing, trapping people underneath. — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026 Yeah, right, the United States is going to be collapsing on the 21st century. — Tonya Mosley, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026 Teen sleep is quietly collapsing, and the device on the nightstand is a big reason why. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 8 Aug. 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 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
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of crumpling
Verb
  • Battered cars with numbers sprayed on their sides are whipping around the dirt track of the Lebanon Valley Speedway, loose fenders flopping like overgrown bangs in the swirling dust.
    — Alison Willmore, Vulture, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Perez chugged around the bases before belly-flopping into third base with his trademark smile.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 30 July 2026
Definition of flopping
Verb
  • The same logic is compressing timelines across billing, genomic analysis and the biopharma pipeline.
    — Renu Navale, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • When force is applied, the pillar tilts toward the point of contact, compressing the corresponding chamber and pushing fluid through soft tubes to actuators.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
Definition of compressing
Adjective
  • The modern folding-knife market has no shortage of compact tools designed to disappear into a pocket.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 July 2026
  • These are challenges that supposedly don't hit a flat, non-folding display anywhere near as hard.
    — Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of folding
Verb
  • White, the former Illinois secretary of state, is on the Snowballs’ advisory board, and Emmanuel McGhee, the tumbling team’s head coach, is also a coach for the Snowballs.
    — Chris Placek, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Wall Street investors sent Adobe shares tumbling from a 2021 high of $661 per share to as little as $202 in mid-June, when CFO Dan Durn announced his departure for a similar position at chipmaker Marvell.
    — David Bloom, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of tumbling
Verb
  • Similar to Abrams, the young shortstop had shown a knack for exceptional, highlight-reel plays while struggling with consistency.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Flagship carriers including American, Lufthansa, Riyadh Air and Singapore Airlines are all struggling to navigate the lengthy, multi-year approval process for bespoke cabins.
    — Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • Washington is trying to choke Iran's ability to get its crude out while Tehran is squeezing the artery through which everybody else's crude gets through.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Chances are you answer emails while sitting in meetings, listen to podcasts while exercising, scroll your phone while standing in line and congratulate ourselves for squeezing more into every hour.
    — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of squeezing

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collapses
collapsing
collar
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Cite this Entry

“Collapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsing. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of collapsing for Spanish Speakers

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