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
One of the victims fled to a McDonald's restaurant where his bloodstained clothes, which were likely cut off by paramedics, were crumpled on the floor near the entrance.
—
CBS News, 7 June 2026
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
CBS News, 7 June 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumpled
Verb
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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
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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
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Funded by the National Science Foundation, the film investigates evidence that Greenland’s ice sheet collapsed in the past and asks what that reveals about the planet’s future.—
Tarini Mehta,
Sacbee.com,
9 June 2026
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Crucially, the study found that a major sanctuary called Amyklai remained active after the palace collapsed, and later became important to both Spartans and Lakedaimonians.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Avoid cucumbers that are soft, yellow, or wrinkled.—
Susan Hall Mahon,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
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Crepey skin is an inevitable part of aging, and it’s characterized by loose, thin, and wrinkled skin on the neck, hands, jawline, and around the mouth.—
Reece Andavolgyi,
InStyle,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Highflying names such as Nvidia and Broadcom slid as server maker Super Micro Computer tumbled 28% on a $7-billion stock sale plan, stoking fresh worries about an AI-fueled bubble.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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Anglogold Ashanti tumbled nearly 6%, while Harmony Gold Mining fell more than 2% and Gold Fields lost more than 4%.—
Scott Schnipper,
CNBC,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The vehicle has 78 cubic feet of storage space when the rear seats are folded, 44 cubic feet when just the back row is folded, and 15 cubic feet when all seats are in use.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
10 June 2026
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Paul Turnley was presented with a British flag folded into a triangle given by the military in honor of the sacrifice of his relation, Pvt.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpled. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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