1
as in to scrunch
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
crumpled the piece of paper and angrily threw it in the wastebasket
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to collapse
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the box crumpled when I accidentally dropped a brick on it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of crumple
Boz just towers over her, is confident and assured as always, and Rachel is all crumpled up and just wants to get out of there.
—
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Callaghan asked for details, and LaBeouf physically crumpled, trying to stop himself from saying more.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?
—Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Brian Moylan, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Callaghan asked for details, and LaBeouf physically crumpled, trying to stop himself from saying more.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.
—CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026
Why tire himself out, become completely exhausted and out of breath, crumple up the bedsheets that were changed just a few days ago, get someone else’s germs all over himself, and then reek of sweat afterward?
—Agnieszka Szpila, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for crumple
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumple
Verb
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Further inspection found a Mexican citizen scrunched into a makeshift, dry compartment in the gas tank that February day.—
Jim Radcliffe,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
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Reduce frizz, add shine, and offer your curls a soft, flexible hold with Bumble and Bumble's Curl Defining Styling Cream, which should be scrunched into wet hair from mid-shaft to ends before air drying or diffusing.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The innermost rim formed later, when a mountain at the crater’s center collapsed.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
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Eventually, Pearlene collapsed and died inside a makeshift bathroom in the family’s trailer, which had no running water or electricity.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In small spaces, pair it with nesting tables and folding chairs.—
Jessica Bennett,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Apr. 2026
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Plenty of countertop space for folding clothes is also key.—
Lindsey Mather,
Architectural Digest,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Adell had just stolen a home run, tumbling over the waist-high wall near the right-field foul pole, which frames the left side of the photo.—
Tyler Kepner,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2026
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Shares tumbled nearly 2% after the stock was downgraded by Bank of America to neutral from buy.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The last thing Louise saw before losing consciousness was this woman’s face, wrinkled in an unapologetic way, old, shamelessly old, defiantly so.—
Catherine Lacey,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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Also wrinkling matters is Eiza González as Nick’s wife Alice, who also happens to be Mike’s secret lover.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumple. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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