Synonyms of crumpling

crumpling

verb

present participle of crumple

1

as in scrunching

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

• scrunching
• folding
• wrinkling
• crinkling
• furrowing
• creasing
• rumpling
• rippling
• ruffling
• corrugating
• puckering
• crimping
• knitting
• crisping
• pleating
• rucking
• contracting
• mussing (up)
• messing (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• flattening
• smoothing
• straightening
• pressing
• evening
• ironing
• ironing out
• unfolding
• uncrumpling
• smoothening
• tidying
• neatening

2

as in collapsing

to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure

the box crumpled when I accidentally dropped a brick on it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• collapsing
• tumbling
• buckling
• going
• melting
• crumbling
• shattering
• yielding
• giving
• dying
• imploding
• foundering
• crashing
• going out
• giving way
• flattening
• caving (in)
• breaking
• bursting
• snapping
• smashing
• cracking
• failing
• deflating
• popping
• stalling
• splintering
• splitting
• giving out
• melting down
• breaking down
• conking (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rising
• swelling
• inflating

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of crumpling

Euphoric players cavorting in disbelief, long-suffering fans crumpling to their knees in tears, commentators’ voices cracking at the drama of it all. — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 27 July 2026

Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years. — CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

The Material steak knives arrived sharp, slicing through a piece of paper rather than crumpling its edge. — Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 18 Mar. 2026

Kamau fading, then lunging, then crumpling to the pavement at the line. — Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 11 Mar. 2026

The question is whether the world can take that long of a shock without crumpling beneath the weight of rising inflation and staggering growth. — Tristan Bove, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2026

Singh’s truck blocked both lanes of the northbound Turnpike, leading the Chrysler Town & Country minivan the three friends were riding in to slam into the semi’s 18-wheeler trailer, crumpling underneath it. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025