1
as in to tumble
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the motel balcony collapsed under the weight of so many people
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to fail
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to compress
to reduce in size or volume by or as if by pressing parts or members together
the novel collapses events from four separate trips into one long odyssey
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in exhaustion
a complete depletion of energy or strength
suffered a mental collapse under the strain of studying for his bar exam
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2
as in defeat
a falling short of one's goals
the complete collapse of the invasion set off a round of finger-pointing and recrimination
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapse
Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 1 May 2025
In exchange, tourism and cooperation from our northern neighbor has collapsed, while the Carney government has been instituting retaliation tariffs.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Cause of the collapse revealed Over many decades, certain load-bearing piers – which are vertical structural components used to bear weight and help distribute it – had begun to deteriorate because they were not properly connected during initial construction.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
Officer Duarte then, after leaning down towards that officer, succumbs to his injuries and collapses to the ground.
—Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 1 May 2025
In exchange, tourism and cooperation from our northern neighbor has collapsed, while the Carney government has been instituting retaliation tariffs.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
Symptoms include brown-ringed leaf spots, dark stem cankers or zones of dead/dying tissue, and eventually, the collapse of plants in entire sections of a mass grouping.
—Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 1 May 2025
Cause of the collapse revealed Over many decades, certain load-bearing piers – which are vertical structural components used to bear weight and help distribute it – had begun to deteriorate because they were not properly connected during initial construction.
—Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
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That energy focus has been weighing on GGN, since oil has been tumbling with stocks as of late.—
Michael Foster,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
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Spotify shares tumbled after its Q1 numbers and 2025 forecasts with the stock down a hefty 9% mid-morning.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Even though the measure failed in Bensenville, at least 163 communities around the state have recently enacted local grocery taxes.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2025
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That effort cost Obama's party control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Republicans failed in their own bids to repeal the law.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
Verb
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The potatoes are cooked low and slow in the oven, then compressed overnight.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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Rising interest rates have compressed valuations, rotating investor appetite toward value, dividends, and defensive plays.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Among the more predictable outcomes are burnout, exhaustion, and declines in job satisfaction.—
Adia Harvey Wingfield,
Forbes.com,
1 May 2025
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At the end of this rally phase, the RSI pushed into the overbought region which suggests a potential exhaustion point.—
David Keller,
CNBC,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Local disaster for Dutton compounds national defeat Dutton not only lost the national contest, but was also ousted from his own seat in the northeastern state of Queensland, in a shock defeat to Labor’s Ali France.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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Arteta did not disclose the exact nature of the problem but explained Timber, 23, was missing from the matchday squad for the weekend’s Premier League fixture due to a knock picked up in the first leg defeat against the Ligue 1 champions on Tuesday.—
Art de Roché,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Verb
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The main reason the studios and independents go abroad to shoot is money.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
5 May 2025
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So how did Combs go from wearing a glamorous bespoke white suit on the steps of the Met Gala a few years back to now being allocated 20 pieces of clothing he's permitted to wear at a courthouse just 5 miles away?—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
4 May 2025
Verb
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Unless Hairston flops, boundary cornerback will be the least of their draft concerns for a long time.—
Joe Buscaglia,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2025
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But both his WrestleMania 41 main event against Rhodes and his character arc since his heel turn have completely flopped.—
Blake Oestriecher,
Forbes.com,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For now, the researchers have left the ship in situ, partially covering it with original soil and squeezing wet sponges onto it to preserve moisture.—
Eli Wizevich,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 Apr. 2025
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The question of whether a modern Phantom can squeeze through the driveway gates remains to be seen.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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