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
Then, after Barnes had dragged Newcastle level and the home side had built up attacking pressure, Thiaw crumpled under a challenge from Calvert-Lewin inside his own box, stuck out an arm and handled Jaka Bijol’s nod-down.
—
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The Nuggets were playing the Miami Heat when Jokic crumpled to the ground holding his knee at the tail end of the first half.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
The concept applies to gift bags, sturdy boxes, and tissue paper that hasn’t been crumpled beyond a little smoothing.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
In a post on X Friday morning, a user by the name of Starship Gazer, whose profile describes nearly half a decade of documenting Starship's development, posted an image of Booster 18 with much of the bottom portion of the vehicle crumpled like an empty soda can.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
They can be crumpled into a pack, then spring back with no problem.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 14 Nov. 2025
Claire Danes Crying Face, crumpled creases of concern atop a quivery chin, has been deployed in the service of romantic desolation, professional desperation and several permutations of grief, loneliness and general unraveling.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Barkov crumpled to the ice during the team’s first full preseason practice after minor contact Thursday.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, these Bormiolo Rocco glasses designed by Ross Lovegrove look like someone crumpled a regular rocks glass in their hand like a bad first draft.
—Emily Johnson, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2025
Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
The Nuggets were playing the Miami Heat when Jokic crumpled to the ground holding his knee at the tail end of the first half.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
The concept applies to gift bags, sturdy boxes, and tissue paper that hasn’t been crumpled beyond a little smoothing.
—Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025
In a post on X Friday morning, a user by the name of Starship Gazer, whose profile describes nearly half a decade of documenting Starship's development, posted an image of Booster 18 with much of the bottom portion of the vehicle crumpled like an empty soda can.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 21 Nov. 2025
They can be crumpled into a pack, then spring back with no problem.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside, 14 Nov. 2025
Claire Danes Crying Face, crumpled creases of concern atop a quivery chin, has been deployed in the service of romantic desolation, professional desperation and several permutations of grief, loneliness and general unraveling.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 13 Nov. 2025
Barkov crumpled to the ice during the team’s first full preseason practice after minor contact Thursday.
—Miami Herald, 26 Oct. 2025
Meanwhile, these Bormiolo Rocco glasses designed by Ross Lovegrove look like someone crumpled a regular rocks glass in their hand like a bad first draft.
—Emily Johnson, Architectural Digest, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumpled
Verb
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The beauty of a great lightweight puffer is that it can be worn as an insert or an overcoat, and it can even be tightly scrunched up into a tiny ball to use as a makeshift travel pillow on the plane.—
Michelle Tchea,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Unlike a typical golden, her dog sports an underbite and scrunched nose, giving her a uniquely charming expression.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But after leading by as many as nine in the first half, the Heat collapsed in the second half, and the result was a third consecutive double-digit loss.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The man then fled from the scene on foot but collapsed at the intersection of Avenue L and Bishop Street.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The metallized effect leaves the pants looking—well—completely wrinkled.—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
11 Jan. 2026
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Instead of throwing it out, use old or leftover tissue paper as packing material, in crafts, and to keep items from becoming wrinkled or tangled.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Canada’s prime minister will also look to boost Chinese purchases of Canadian goods — which tumbled by more than 10% last year — during his visit to Beijing this week.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
14 Jan. 2026
-
The Dow Jones Industrial Average initially tumbled nearly 500 points on Monday.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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There was a blanket folded on the couch, and papers and books chaotically piled on a coffee table and a desk.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
15 Jan. 2026
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To remedy this, Malone encourages people to keep only pajamas, workout attire, and underwear folded in drawers.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Crumpled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpled. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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