crumple

1 of 2

verb

crum·​ple ˈkrəm-pəl How to pronounce crumple (audio)
crumpled; crumpling ˈkrəm-p(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce crumple (audio)
Synonyms of crumplenext

transitive verb

1
: to press, bend, or crush out of shape : rumple
2
: to cause to collapse

intransitive verb

1
: to become crumpled
2
: collapse

crumple

2 of 2

noun

: a wrinkle or crease made by crumpling
crumply
ˈkrəm-p(ə-)lē How to pronounce crumple (audio)
adjective

Synonyms of crumple

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Verb

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Examples of crumple in a Sentence

Verb She crumpled the piece of paper into a ball and tossed it into the garbage can. The car's fender was crumpled in the accident. At the sight of blood, he crumpled to the floor.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
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 The 23-year-old crumpled to the ground, clutching his left hand before walking off with trainers. — Alejandro Avila, FOXNews.com, 15 July 2026
Noun
This post-mounted mailbox is larger than average, which means magazines can lay flat and your mail can arrive without a single crumple or crease. — Mina Dragani, Architectural Digest, 22 July 2026 As the chain is synthesized in the cell, thermal fluctuations allow the chain to explore its energy landscape and crumple up into its most stable equilibrium state. — Quanta Magazine, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for crumple

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English crumplen, frequentative of Middle English crumpen

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1607, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of crumple was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing crumple

Browse Nearby Words

crump hole
crumple
crumpler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Crumple.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crumple. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

crumple

verb
crum·​ple
ˈkrəm-pəl
crumpled; crumpling
-p(ə-)liŋ
1
: to press, bend, or crush out of shape
2
: to become crumpled
3
: collapse entry 1 sense 1

More from Merriam-Webster on crumple

Nglish: Translation of crumple for Spanish Speakers

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