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
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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
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James then scrunched his face into a sarcastic, close-eyed smile.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 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
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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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Bad potatoes might be mushy, bruised, wrinkled, moldy, or green.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
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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
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Stock markets have tumbled, and recession odds have climbed.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
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Meanwhile, stocks have tumbled.—
Jay Ganglani,
NBC news,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News, two other media brands that also chronicled the television business for decades, folded in 2024.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
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Within the casket was a dog, an old slipper folded in its paws.—
Jennie Key,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpled. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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