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
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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
as in failing
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapsing
Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 10 Sep. 2025
Some were collapsing or fire-damaged, others left vacant after the house next door burned.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
One explanation would be a massive star collapsing onto itself, releasing vast amounts of energy.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Scientists warn that the population is collapsing and could be gone within a decade.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Why do French governments keep collapsing?
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The hustle and bustle of traffic and pedestrians leaks into its auditorium, and rain drips down through the collapsing roof to the seats below.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Transmitted by bites, scratches, or even just by getting a drop of infected blood in one's system, the virus spreads rapidly, effectively collapsing society.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
On the runway, the forms alternate between architectural precision and fluid sensuality, with Scott often layering handwoven crochet against crisp suiting or transparent knits, collapsing binaries between resort wear and luxury evening.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Adjective
The carrier warned that incorrect declarations can result in cargo shifting or collapsing, alongside other accidents like chemical reactions, fires or even explosions.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 10 Sep. 2025
Some were collapsing or fire-damaged, others left vacant after the house next door burned.
—Jesus Mesa, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
One explanation would be a massive star collapsing onto itself, releasing vast amounts of energy.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Scientists warn that the population is collapsing and could be gone within a decade.
—Felicia Jackson, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Why do French governments keep collapsing?
—Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
The hustle and bustle of traffic and pedestrians leaks into its auditorium, and rain drips down through the collapsing roof to the seats below.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
Transmitted by bites, scratches, or even just by getting a drop of infected blood in one's system, the virus spreads rapidly, effectively collapsing society.
—Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 3 Sep. 2025
On the runway, the forms alternate between architectural precision and fluid sensuality, with Scott often layering handwoven crochet against crisp suiting or transparent knits, collapsing binaries between resort wear and luxury evening.
—Skylar Mitchell, Essence, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapsing
Verb
-
Singh was blocking both lanes of the northbound Turnpike when Dufresne’s Chrysler Town & Country minivan hit the truck, crumpling underneath the 18-wheeler’s trailer.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The Jays left two runners in scoring position with no outs in the third, failing to push the ball out of the infield to earn a lead.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
However, the former fifth-round pick faded over his final couple of years in the Windy City, failing to reach 500 yards receiving in either 2022 or 2023.—
Matthew Schmidt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Competition is another factor, as traditional banks and fintechs may intensify share battles, compressing margins.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Yet the league did not extend the overall calendar, compressing more games into the same timeframe.—
Grant Afseth,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
According to data from market research firm IDC, the average selling price of folding phones is nearly three times higher than that of normal smartphones — roughly $1,218 vs. $421 for non-folding phones.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2025
-
Nissan advises owners to avoid attaching anything to the key fob and to use the key in the non-folding position.—
Laura Sky Brown,
Car and Driver,
28 Feb. 2023
Verb
-
Even the announcement of company lifer Fiddelke’s ascension to the top job last month was greeted with tumbling stock shares because some investors wanted an outsider.—
Dan Gingiss,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The footage shows an MQ-9 Reaper drone tracking the object before a second drone fires a Hellfire missile, sending fragments tumbling around it.—
Amir Daftari,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Godfather director steals the show here as an energetic, pugnacious and visionary circus ringleader who put his money where his mouth was for a project that wound up flopping critically and commercially.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Aug. 2025
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Domnhall Gleeson stars as the new editor-in-chief of a flopping Toledo newspaper tasked with revitalising its output.—
Lucy Ford,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Row the dumbbell up towards your chest, squeezing your shoulder blades together.—
Jakob Roze,
Health,
8 Sep. 2025
-
While startups occasionally push boundaries with optimization techniques—squeezing more efficiency out of existing silicon—barriers to entry are overwhelmingly high.—
Forbes.com,
Forbes.com,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the memoir, Sheen blames this same testosterone cream for feeding his state of mind going into that encounter.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Pictures of Bambi going about her day with a microphone on her collar.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapsing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsing. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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