crinkled

past tense of crinkle
1
as in rustled
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 furrowed
to develop creases or folds her forehead crinkled in consternation when her guests failed to arrive on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 crinkled The video shows Kobe, a golden retriever, standing on a landing with his eyes barely open, fur sticking up in all directions, and one ear crinkled—likely from lying on it. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Aug. 2025 But back to Cyrus, who also wears key looks from Maison Margiela’s Avant-Première Collection for fall 2025, which includes crinkled, faded and hand-greased looks. Miles Socha, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crinkled
Verb
  • Barkov crumpled to the ice during the team’s first full preseason practice after minor contact Thursday.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Diane pulled out a sheet from a stack of papers, and it was all crumpled up with the lyrics to the song.
    Kyle Denis, Billboard, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • With his brow perennially furrowed and hair slicked with sweat, Riley has the exact look and bearing of a suavely addled wrong-man figure from British thrillers of yore — and thus makes a suitably bemused proxy for the viewers in this wasteland of mounting chaos and absurdity.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • At night, the fire crackled while insects filled the air and a distant lion let out a low, steady rumble.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Thunder crackled and skies darkened in Mooresville.
    Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The cast scrunched out easily, leaving curls soft and natural-looking.
    Malia Griggs, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Kavya tugs on my arm, her nose is scrunched up, eyebrows discombobulated.
    Navdeep Singh Dhillon, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Every plot point is wrinkled or changed in some fundamental way.
    Joe Lynch, Billboard, 18 Oct. 2024
  • The vinyl decals, featuring salmon crying to get beyond the first of the dams, were wrinkled, the banner itself battle-scarred in places.
    Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Those rosters from the past were mostly homegrown, with a few veterans expertly folded in.
    Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Army leaders say the Switchblade is one of several technologies being folded into armored units as the service adapts lessons from Ukraine and other conflicts, where drones have played an outsized role.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Like Brandon Flowers, subtle fine lines creased her forehead.
    Anna Haines, Vogue, 23 Sep. 2025
  • The interior is easily wipeable and not baggy or creased in a way that might trap liquid or crumbs.
    Adam Campbell-Schmitt, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Crinkled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crinkled. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.

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