CRINKLE Synonyms: 53 Similar and Opposite Words

crinkle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of crinkle

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

ˈkriŋ-kəl

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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as in to crumple

to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in crinkled the candy wrapper up and threw it away

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

The company is known for its 100% Angus beef burgers, crinkle fries and milkshakes, including flavors such as Dubai Chocolate Pistachio Shake and the Biscoff Cookie Butter Tiramisu Shake. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 12 Aug. 2026 Pick up a bulk pack of mini bags, a custom wax seal from Etsy, blank gift tags, some crinkle cut paper, and a roll of ribbon. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 28 June 2026

Verb

Similar in appearance to savoy spinach, but semi-savoy is moderately crinkled and easier to handle, says Kasper. — Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 29 Apr. 2026 Here, the creative studio pitches concepts like jeans with cutoff waistbands, crinkled barely-there washes, repairs and rounded patchwork and super flare silhouettes that mimic ’70s DIY fits. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for crinkle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for crinkle

Noun

The underwater drone, tethered to the ship with cables and about the size of a small car, was just above the ocean floor as the researchers and pilots searched for furrows potentially left by whales.

— Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
In fossils, tooth marks often look like punctures or furrows.

— Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 July 2026

Definition of furrow

Verb

The tree still stood, waiting, but no one visited, no one entered the world under her strong branches, her rustling leaves.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
Guests love the serene jungle setting with sweet birdsong in the background and a gentle wind rustling through the trees.

— Jasreen Mayal Khanna, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of rustle

Verb

Inflation is part of the show, as across the valley floor, enormous envelopes lie crumpled in fields before fans slowly give them shape—then the burners start, sending pulses of orange through the fabric.

— Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
According to National Geographic, as the Arabian plate began to move further under the Eurasian plate, the two plates crumpled together, creating the Zagros Mountains — an impressive stretch of peaks that still exist in Iran.

— Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of crumple

Verb

Crafted from quality linen, the dress has earned praise from shoppers for its high-quality fabric that’s easy to wash and doesn’t look overly wrinkled.

— Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
The slim fit of these long-sleeve tops is perfect for tucking into bottoms, and the super-soft, stretchy fabric won’t wrinkle easily when folded into your travel bag.

— Amber Cardullo, Travel + Leisure, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of wrinkle

Verb

The flames have three brightness settings and six crackling sound effects.

— BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
All three plays share Maya’s signature style of blazing-fast dialogue, crackling humor, occasional lines spoken in Spanish and a quick wrap-up in under two hours.

— Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of crackle

Verb

The two-time champion squeaked through her first round in two tiebreakers.

— Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Its movements and squeaks change in response to the person interacting with it, giving caregivers another way to reduce distress and encourage engagement.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of squeak

Browse Nearby Words

cringing (at)

crinkle

crinkled

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Style

“Crinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crinkle. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of crinkle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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