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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Recent Examples of crumpled
MacKinnon initially crumpled to the ice in pain after blocking the shot, briefly getting to one knee and clearing the puck out of the defensive zone before falling back to the ice.
—
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Nearby, a different video shows her pink jacket crumpled on the sidewalk and a green purse.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
The hardcore ankle boots are now dehydrated and crumpled.
—Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Authorities found Spungen crumpled in their hotel room's bathroom, bloodied and dead of a single stab wound to her abdomen.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán crumpled to the ground with an injury after throwing just one pitch on Tuesday.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
According to National Geographic, as the Arabian plate began to move further under the Eurasian plate, the two plates crumpled together, creating the Zagros Mountains – an impressive stretch of peaks that still exist in Iran.
—Sarah Tamimi, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
For my upcoming spring and summer trips, I’ve been focused on pieces that stay polished no matter how long they’ve been packed, from breezy maxi dresses to one-and-done jumpsuits that won’t come out crumpled.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Homes and buildings are crumpled into themselves, unrecognizable.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 25 May 2026
Nearby, a different video shows her pink jacket crumpled on the sidewalk and a green purse.
—Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 12 May 2026
The hardcore ankle boots are now dehydrated and crumpled.
—Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 8 May 2026
Authorities found Spungen crumpled in their hotel room's bathroom, bloodied and dead of a single stab wound to her abdomen.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
Cincinnati Reds closer Emilio Pagán crumpled to the ground with an injury after throwing just one pitch on Tuesday.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
According to National Geographic, as the Arabian plate began to move further under the Eurasian plate, the two plates crumpled together, creating the Zagros Mountains – an impressive stretch of peaks that still exist in Iran.
—Sarah Tamimi, CNN Money, 4 May 2026
For my upcoming spring and summer trips, I’ve been focused on pieces that stay polished no matter how long they’ve been packed, from breezy maxi dresses to one-and-done jumpsuits that won’t come out crumpled.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 2 May 2026
Homes and buildings are crumpled into themselves, unrecognizable.
—Kat Lonsdorf, NPR, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumpled
Verb
-
As the players headed to their benches and the officials took their customary walks to the scorer’s table for the time out, Atkinson scrunched his face, stuck out his hands, and mockingly clapped toward Blair — who ignored the obvious taunt.—
Joe Vardon,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
Louis' scrunched up face got an affectionate giggle out of his dad as the two sat side-by-side at the 80th anniversary of VE Day in 2025.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Following the 2008 financial crisis, several of Spain’s major industries collapsed, the unemployment rate soared to 27 percent, and the banking system entered such a vicious cycle that not even the Spanish government could afford to rescue it (hence, the EU bailout).—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
1 June 2026
-
Revenue grew, but margins collapsed and management became chaotic.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Yellow light like tissue paper wrinkled across disposable foil pans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
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If the cucumbers are starting to turn yellow, have wrinkled skin, or have become misshapen, they've usually been left on the vine too long.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
2 June 2026
Verb
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CrowdStrike shares also tumbled around 10% in after-hours trading despite its fiscal first-quarter results narrowly beating Wall Street expectations.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
Chinese demand for oil has tumbled 9% from before the Iran war, according to JPMorgan.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
More than 40 teams have folded since 2021.—
Reagan Yip,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
-
Nevertheless, Fort Lauderdale still saw an overall capacity reduction after Spirit folded.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpled. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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