folding 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of foldingnext
as in collapsing

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folding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of fold
1
as in doubling
to lay one part over or against another part of fold the blanket so that it will fit inside the trunk

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in flopping
to be unsuccessful the business folded after just two months

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of folding
Adjective
Their laundry room was filled with bright colors and ample folding space. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 12 May 2026 Most folding bookshelves are made from lightweight materials such as wood, bamboo or metal. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
Small enough to fit into a purse, the traditional Spanish folding hand fan, or abanico, snaps open into a semicircle. — ABC News, 1 Sep. 2026 Dow watched as Nick Hampe, a jumper working in the loft, stretched a billowy, three-hundred-and-seventy-five-square-foot parachute onto a table, and began folding it. — M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for folding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for folding
  1. failing
  2. doubling
  3. flopping
  4. collapsing
  5. missing
  6. struggling
Adjective
  • The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
    — Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Jan. 2026
Definition of failing
Verb
  • Chevron is expanding its operations in Venezuela, more than doubling its oil production over the next five years via a $7 billion investment.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The panels store within the roof rails when driving but expand at camp to deliver up to 600 watts of charging while doubling as an awning, saving space and weight as compared to separate awning and charging systems.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of doubling
Verb
  • Nurses are fainting on the wards, children are flopping onto their desks at school.
    — Cressida Leyshon, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The video shows the peacock, referred to by some in the neighborhood as Sugar, seemingly flopping around then collapsing.
    — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of flopping
Verb
  • The family’s attorney says Mayich struggled through a military-style practice with little rest or water, showing clear distress before collapsing.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • In a phone interview with The Associated Press, Rodríguez Verona said survivors were disoriented and dehydrated, with many collapsing or vomiting upon reaching land.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of collapsing
Verb
  • Clear information gives everyone a fair chance to ask questions and prevents resentment from filling in the missing details.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Biggest concern Wide receiver The Eagles’ reconfigured wide receiver depth chart was hard to ascertain this summer with DeVonta Smith and Makai Lemon missing three weeks of team drills.
    — Zach Berman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of missing
Verb
  • Its interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former al-Qa’eda militant who led the rebel offensive that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, has been struggling to rebuild a nation devastated by almost 14 years of civil war.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Teachers and students are struggling to parse the difference between deploying AI effectively and exploiting the technology to cheat.
    — Sian Leah Beilock, The Atlantic, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of struggling

Browse Nearby Words

folders
folding
folding money
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Cite this Entry

“Folding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/folding. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on folding

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about folding

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