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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapse
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
That’s because wholesale flower prices in Colorado have collapsed.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
The community is on the brink of collapse – until Elias’ estranged brother Joosua returns from prison and performs a miraculous healing.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
The relationship collapsed after the oligarch came to suspect the art dealer had helped himself to a tranche of his wealth, to the tune of $1 billion.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 Mar. 2026
That’s because wholesale flower prices in Colorado have collapsed.
—Aldo Svaldi, Denver Post, 21 Mar. 2026
Noun
Continue reading … REVOLUTION RISING — Cuban exiles in Miami say 'this is the end' for communism as island teeters on collapse.
—FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
The community is on the brink of collapse – until Elias’ estranged brother Joosua returns from prison and performs a miraculous healing.
—Marta Balaga, Variety, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
-
Crude futures tumbled , and gold prices cut losses.—
Fred Imbert,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The video shows the plane colliding with the truck, going over the vehicle, which tumbles beneath the jet.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That too is likely to fail as lawmakers hold a rare weekend session.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
-
After failing to score in three consecutive league games, Farke must be tempted to tweak the system.—
Beren Cross,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the air subsides, it is compressed, which warms it up.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
-
That pressure pushes down on the air underneath it, compressing and heating it.—
Andrew Freedman,
CNN Money,
17 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To avoid exhaustion or resentment, protect that space to recharge.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Heat leads to dehydration, exhaustion and overall inhospitable conditions.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
This was a better defensive effort for the Stars than their sloppy defeat Tuesday night at home against New Jersey.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Mental mistakes have led to losses, such as SKC’s most recent 4-1 defeat to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Having faced Big Ten physicality all season, first-year Iowa coach Ben McCollum’s team went toe to toe with Florida’s punishing front court.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
23 Mar. 2026
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Part of the money will also go toward expansion of Philander Smith's health education facilities, including space for soon-to-be radiologists and phlebotomists.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Girlfriend scales the diaristic, bric-a-brac charm of Janky Star into a high-drama pop monument to trying, flopping, and trying even harder next time.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
20 Mar. 2026
-
All those efforts flopped in Congress.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The three of us squeezed into our bedroom closet and huddled over my phone.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Oil prices would continue to soar, while fertilizer, generic drugs, helium and other products dependent on the strait would grow scarce, squeezing the American economy and world economy alike.—
Nicholas D. Kristof,
Mercury News,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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