1
as in scrunched
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
crumpled the piece of paper and angrily threw it in the wastebasket
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapsed
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the box crumpled when I accidentally dropped a brick on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 crumpled
Colbert took a paper copy with the CBS statement, crumpled it, and put it in a plastic bag typically used to collect dog feces.
—
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Irving accidentally stepped on then-Kings center Jonas Valančiūnas’ foot and crumpled to the ground in pain.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Specifically, during a phone call Sullivan had with Eric after the ordeal, which marked a low point for the series as Eric launched into a verbal tirade while cameras captured Sullivan crumpled into a bawling heap.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
The Honda’s trunk flew open, the front crumpled.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
The polar bear crumpled three steps from Junior’s feet.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
Ball collided hard with Lee and both crumpled quickly to the floor, quieting the arena while many looked on anxiously.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
An employee wiped their mouth with a paper towel, crumpled it and threw it away, then returned to food prep area without changing gloves or washing hands.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 30, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Graham had also been a key supporter of escalation closer to home, in Venezuela, whose government was also being crumpled by the White House into the shape of a singular terrorist network.
—Séamus Malekafzali, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Irving accidentally stepped on then-Kings center Jonas Valančiūnas’ foot and crumpled to the ground in pain.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
Specifically, during a phone call Sullivan had with Eric after the ordeal, which marked a low point for the series as Eric launched into a verbal tirade while cameras captured Sullivan crumpled into a bawling heap.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Feb. 2026
The Honda’s trunk flew open, the front crumpled.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
The polar bear crumpled three steps from Junior’s feet.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
Ball collided hard with Lee and both crumpled quickly to the floor, quieting the arena while many looked on anxiously.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 3 Feb. 2026
An employee wiped their mouth with a paper towel, crumpled it and threw it away, then returned to food prep area without changing gloves or washing hands.
—Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
january 30, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 2026
Graham had also been a key supporter of escalation closer to home, in Venezuela, whose government was also being crumpled by the White House into the shape of a singular terrorist network.
—Séamus Malekafzali, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumpled
Verb
-
Talayah Walker scrunched her eyebrows at the podium when Georgia Tech coach Karen Blair mentioned — in a complimentary way — that her star sophomore had committed only one turnover Sunday.—
Stan Awtrey,
AJC.com,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Late in the third quarter, Buzelis turned away from the basket and scrunched up his face in a grimace of disgust.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The city agency said the home collapsed during the incident and that the individual was found dead in the structure after crews extinguished the flames.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
-
But her personal and professional life collapsed amid legal troubles and reports of partying, substance abuse and unreliable behavior.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Bad potatoes might be mushy, bruised, wrinkled, moldy, or green.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Minutes stretched into hours as Evelyn focused on ensuring her wedding ring didn't slip off her fingers, now waterlogged and wrinkled.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
StubHub — Shares of the secondary ticketing marketplace tumbled 6%.—
Pia Singh,Darla Mercado, CFP®,
CNBC,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Twitter’s stock tumbled as a result.—
Andrea Guzmán,
Austin American Statesman,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On the tea-time menu that Wednesday is Vazhakkai Bajji, green plantain slivers folded into spicy chickpea batter, deep-fried a crisp orange-brown and presented on a banana leaf with a coconut dipping chutney on the side.—
Kalpana Mohan,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The Loyal folded, and in December 2023, Ferree became the first player ever signed by SDFC.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpled. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
