1
as in fallen
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in destroyed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
3
as in unconscious
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in crumpled
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in failed
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compressed
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
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 collapsed
Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
But even in a semi-collapsed state, people want family and children and vacations, and so Caroline somewhat reluctantly joins Adam and a cohort of others on Haven.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Kevin Loughlin opened his door to a collapsed mess.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
The newborn daughter of a woman killed in a Queens house fire was found dead in the collapsed home two days later, FDNY official said Wednesday.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
In the future, these miniature flying machines could navigate collapsed buildings after earthquakes and help locate survivors in places larger robots cannot reach.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
One life ended, within a collapsed home, curled around her stepson’s infant son.
—Sharon Olds, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Between 3,000 and 4,000 children have lost one or more limbs since the war began, many after being pulled from collapsed buildings.
—Samer Sinijlawi, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2025
The mayor broke nine ribs and suffered a lacerated liver and semi-collapsed lung, the statement said.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Nov. 2025
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Over the past 50 years, the average size of wildlife populations has collapsed by 73% owing to nature loss and climate change.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
At Yale University, a committee of professors wanted to know why public trust in higher education had collapsed.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
In 2009, after the Jets stadium had collapsed and Tishman Speyer’s bid had died with the financial crisis, Related stepped in within days to take the same terms and build the deck no one else would touch.
—Peter Peyser, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
But after that decent start, their form collapsed.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
University officials said Vargo collapsed during a competition and was rushed to a hospital after being given immediate medical attention on site.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Mynor López was a part of a road maintenance crew filling potholes when the bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo vessel.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
Bulgaria’s previous conservative government collapsed in December after nationwide anti-corruption protests drew hundreds of thousands of mainly young people to the streets.
—Veselin Toshkov, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
When first responders arrived at the scene, authorities discovered that staff at the venue and wedding guests had already provided initial first aid to some guests and used ladders to help those who fell through the collapsed floor.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 22 Mar. 2026
But even in a semi-collapsed state, people want family and children and vacations, and so Caroline somewhat reluctantly joins Adam and a cohort of others on Haven.
—John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Kevin Loughlin opened his door to a collapsed mess.
—Joe Holden, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2026
The newborn daughter of a woman killed in a Queens house fire was found dead in the collapsed home two days later, FDNY official said Wednesday.
—Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
In the future, these miniature flying machines could navigate collapsed buildings after earthquakes and help locate survivors in places larger robots cannot reach.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Dec. 2025
One life ended, within a collapsed home, curled around her stepson’s infant son.
—Sharon Olds, New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2025
Between 3,000 and 4,000 children have lost one or more limbs since the war began, many after being pulled from collapsed buildings.
—Samer Sinijlawi, The Atlantic, 13 Nov. 2025
The mayor broke nine ribs and suffered a lacerated liver and semi-collapsed lung, the statement said.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 12 Nov. 2025
Verb
The brief, failed ouster of Altman in 2023 almost collapsed the ChatGPT maker, with investors pressing the board to bring back Altman and employees pledging to quit en masse if the CEO wasn’t reinstated.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 27 Apr. 2026
Over the past 50 years, the average size of wildlife populations has collapsed by 73% owing to nature loss and climate change.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
At Yale University, a committee of professors wanted to know why public trust in higher education had collapsed.
—Steven P. Dinkin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
In 2009, after the Jets stadium had collapsed and Tishman Speyer’s bid had died with the financial crisis, Related stepped in within days to take the same terms and build the deck no one else would touch.
—Peter Peyser, New York Daily News, 26 Apr. 2026
But after that decent start, their form collapsed.
—Elias Burke, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026
University officials said Vargo collapsed during a competition and was rushed to a hospital after being given immediate medical attention on site.
—Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Mynor López was a part of a road maintenance crew filling potholes when the bridge collapsed after being hit by a cargo vessel.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 24 Apr. 2026
Bulgaria’s previous conservative government collapsed in December after nationwide anti-corruption protests drew hundreds of thousands of mainly young people to the streets.
—Veselin Toshkov, Los Angeles Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapsed
Adjective
-
In Kansas City, Missouri, a Kansas City Star reporter encountered a fallen tree in the roadway near The Paseo and 35th Street after storms rolled through the area.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Rake up all fallen leaves and debris from around the base of your rose and throw it out with the trash, because this may contain disease spores.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Known as the godfather of public relations, Bernays explained how the unconscious element of people in democratic societies could be manipulated.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Nearly two decades after Ratliff died, Peterson found his wife, Kathleen, unconscious at the bottom of the stairs.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When officials noticed, the person crumpled the page and, in front of everyone, swallowed it.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Some might view that as a bad thing, given that the Broncos’ run-game consistency crumpled after that Dobbins injury.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The show focuses on how the Metropolitan Police failed to thoroughly investigate two women’s allegations, which left Worboys free to commit assaults undetected for many years.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
-
In 2013, Hall tried (and failed) to replicate the previous magic and his show was cancelled after one season, many blaming tougher competition than before.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Sparks worked on building their 2026 roster long before the WNBA’s compressed free agency period tipped off.—
Marisa Ingemi,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The attached marathon seasons, compressed offseasons and challenging schedules that came with that stature also included generally being relegated to the posterior of the draft.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Jenner opted to wear a pair of faded yellow jeans, a Guizio white tank top and a belly chain.—
Gabrielle Rockson,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
-
For the second time in a week, the Dodgers made a minor-league acquisition of a faded pitching prospect with impressive velocity but poor control.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
18 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The Eagles, meanwhile, imploded, and Hurts’ longest completion all day was a 20-yarder to Barkley on their final drive.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
-
In a dusty annex at a Santa Monica courthouse on Tuesday, Kevin Spacey detailed the behind-the-scenes maneuvering of people in his orbit to recover money from the imploded final season of the Netflix show.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
-
In after-hours trading, the stock tumbled more than 6% as a result of the jump in capex guidance.—
Amanda Gerut,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Brown tumbled head-first into a display of wine bottles during the struggle.—
Sheetal Banchariya,
New York Daily News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapsed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapsed. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
