crinkle 1 of 2

Definition of crinklenext
as in furrow
a small fold in a soft and otherwise smooth surface little crinkles at the corners of his mouth showed whenever he smiled

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crinkle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to rustle
to make small sounds usually by rubbing or moving a paper seat cover that crinkles with every move

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2
3
as in to wrinkle
to develop creases or folds her forehead crinkled in consternation when her guests failed to arrive on time

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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 crinkle
Noun
As the last part of its name implied, the flounder was golden brown and piled up, hiding a bed of crinkle cut french fries, which was hiding a puddle of creamy coleslaw. Andre James, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026 Large cheeseburger combo with crinkle fries or tots and a drink for about $10. Ella Gonzales march 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
Also at the premiere was Charli XCX, who went pantsless in a gray corset and tights, and Kylie Jenner, who wore an ab-baring sculptural crinkled top and a low-rise long skirt. Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026 As a result, the new foliage may look crinkled or stunted, with the aphids usually plainly visible around the stem. Jon Vanzile, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crinkle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crinkle
Noun
  • Young olive trees have smooth, gray bark, while the bark develops interesting furrows as the plant ages.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
  • Each year without the dead only deepens the furrow of their absence.
    Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Chongqing-style chicken rustling with red chiles, mapo tofu and gentle Hainan chicken rice check boxes for mass appeal.
    Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • The man looked at me in a rustling way, swaying toward me, his Styrofoam plate of angel hair and cherry tomatoes dotted with tiny black seeds like ants’ eyes.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • MacKinnon initially crumpled to the ice in pain after blocking the shot, briefly getting to one knee and clearing the puck out of the defensive zone before falling back to the ice.
    Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 25 May 2026
  • Nearby, a different video shows her pink jacket crumpled on the sidewalk and a green purse.
    Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • Considerations Before Getting Started At the grocery store, make sure to choose good quality potatoes that aren't wrinkled, green, or sprouting.
    Lauren Wicks, Southern Living, 29 May 2026
  • Not all linens wrinkle the same—those made from heavier, longer-staple linens will generally wrinkle less and recover more quickly, as opposed to lighter linens made from shorter-length fibers.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 25 May 2026
Noun
  • Lines by his eyes, a crease off his smile, shadowy grey hair, trimmed neat — but a well-aged man at 60, skin kissed by the Florida sun.
    Dan Robson, New York Times, 29 May 2026
  • Ballots are prepared Another team of workers inspects every ballot, flattening them and removing creases in preparation to be scanned.
    Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Many guests and patrons are regulars, lingering over martinis as a fireplace crackles in the background.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • His voice crackles over the radio.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Verb
  • Simply add an excess of your preferred oil or gel and scrunch away.
    Calin Van Paris, InStyle, 27 May 2026
  • As the players headed to their benches and the officials took their customary walks to the scorer’s table for the time out, Atkinson scrunched his face, stuck out his hands, and mockingly clapped toward Blair — who ignored the obvious taunt.
    Joe Vardon, New York Times, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • In the end, the club squeaked by with a 1-0 win in the final game of the season, keeping its place in the top tier of La Liga.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 4 June 2026
  • If the puck squeaked through, Hall may have connected with Jackson Blake for a breakaway attempt, so some credit to Guhle is due.
    Arpon Basu, New York Times, 24 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Crinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crinkle. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.

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