crinkle 1 of 2

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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crinkle

2 of 2

verb

ˈkriŋ-kəl How to pronounce crinkle (audio)
1
as in to rustle
to make small sounds usually by rubbing or moving a paper seat cover that crinkles with every move

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
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
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
Melissa & Doug Flip Fish Soft Baby Toy This cuddly fish friend squeaks and crinkles. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026 Bake until edges of cookies are set and tops crinkle, 10 to 12 minutes. — Emily Paster, Midwest Living, 15 Aug. 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
  1. furrow
  2. rustle
  3. crumple
  4. wrinkle
  5. crease
  6. crackle
  7. scrunch
  8. squeak
Noun
  • Their furrows reminded me of Rembrandt’s paintings of old men, brows carved deep by hard use and long years.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of furrow
Verb
  • We’re surrounded by dust and desert, but the area feels alive with the chirping of bugs and rustling of leaves.
    — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Sound arrives from grasses that rustle in the breeze or from birds drawn in by native flowering plants.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of rustle
Verb
  • Nix needs to play well — Jonah Coleman acing his audition would help — and the defense must crumple Young into a heap of turnovers.
    — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The aircraft crashed to the ground in a private farm field near McMinnville Municipal Airport, officials said, with a red helicopter left crumpled in pieces and a green helicopter lying upside down.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of crumple
Verb
  • Bake potato halves until very tender when squeezed and skin is wrinkled and crisp, 20–25 minutes.
    — Kelsey Jane Youngman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Along with lasting hydration, the formula smooths and plumps the skin, quickly making fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable.
    — Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of wrinkle
Noun
  • The passport-sized phone is comfortable to stow in a pocket or use closed, but unfolds to reveal a matte, light-deflecting surface with a barely-visible crease.
    — TIME Staff, Time, 5 Nov. 2026
  • The product deeply hydrates and prepares her complexion for crease-free, cake-proof red carpet makeup.
    — Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 4 Nov. 2026
Definition of crease
Verb
  • My ideal bagel has a shiny crust that crackles a little and a dense and chewy interior.
    — Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026
  • That might mean throwing a velvety blanket over the couch; getting a candle with a loud, crackling wick; hanging up a cinnamon broom and displaying decorative gourds.
    — Malaka Gharib, NPR, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of crackle
Verb
  • Fit band on top and clamp shut to hold parchment in place; scrunch up around base.
    — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 6 Nov. 2026
  • In between setups, Baranski tries to keep her energy up, scrunching her face and blowing her lips together to keep them elastic.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of scrunch
Verb
  • Looking to squeak into the top 10 is Burns & Co and Fathom Entertainment’s Jimmy, with the Jimmy Stewart biopic collecting $832,000 Friday from 1,470 North American theaters for a likely $2 million frame.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Still, as Ott began his media session, high-tops squeaked from across the gym.
    — Doug Haller, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeak

Browse Nearby Words

cringing (at)
crinkle
crinkled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crinkle. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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