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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of crumpled
Video shows two people rushing out of a motorcoach waiting at the red light and running over to the victim lying crumpled on the street, while a pedestrian also rushes over to her from the curb.
—
Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Whatever the plan was last year, Mougey and Glenn crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.
—Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Aerial footage of the aftermath showed wreckage scattered across the roof, including the plane’s right wing still lodged in the roof, while the fuselage sat crumpled in the backyard.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The injury occurred on a breakaway in Dallas last Monday, leaving Moody crumpled on the floor and requiring a stretcher.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
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
Spread the bedding out as much as possible in the machine so it’s not crumpled or folded.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
One woman crumpled into the arms of her fellow protesters.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026
Whatever the plan was last year, Mougey and Glenn crumpled it up and threw it in the trash.
—Zack Rosenblatt, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Aerial footage of the aftermath showed wreckage scattered across the roof, including the plane’s right wing still lodged in the roof, while the fuselage sat crumpled in the backyard.
—Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2026
The injury occurred on a breakaway in Dallas last Monday, leaving Moody crumpled on the floor and requiring a stretcher.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026
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
Spread the bedding out as much as possible in the machine so it’s not crumpled or folded.
—Emily Benda Gaylord, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
One woman crumpled into the arms of her fellow protesters.
—Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumpled
Verb
-
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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As the operation collapsed, the messages show the men scrambling for protection and escape routes.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2026
-
In August 2021, as Kabul collapsed and Afghans crowded the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin — then a Republican member of Congress from Oklahoma — tried to travel to Afghanistan.—
Peter Lucier,
Washington Post,
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
-
When selecting pencil-thin asparagus, make sure the skin is not wrinkled, as this is a sign of dehydration or woodiness.—
Victoria Spencer,
Martha Stewart,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In closing arguments Thursday, prosecutors led by Assistant State Attorney Rich Buxman of the Fifth Judicial Circuit relied on testimony by Green’s neighbors, who claimed Hunter and Green tumbled down the stairs during the argument.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
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In a hopeful sign for the downtown struggling office market, the owner of an iconic office tower that tumbled into foreclosure has reached a settlement with its lender to regain control of the 23-story building, in a purchase that will include a new ownership arrangement with a longtime partner.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The ground beef was chopped fine on the grill and folded together with sweet, softened onions and perfectly melted American cheese, all tucked into a soft roll with crisp lettuce and tomato for balance.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
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Romero said cities and counties should control development, but favors an annexation approach where portions of unincorporated areas are essentially folded into the city and its infrastructure.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpled. Accessed 9 Apr. 2026.
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