1
as in tumbles
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in fails
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in compresses
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
as in defeats
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 collapses
Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
There’s an even bigger problem, though—Charlie collapses on the floor in pain, alone in the office, as the season ends.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 10 June 2026
Now researchers have analyzed samples taken from within the structure itself—specifically, the crater’s peak ring, an inner ring that formed when the Chicxulub impact produced enough debris to form a mound in the center of its crater that later collapses.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 June 2026
The real insight is in what collapses when one pillar is absent.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 9 June 2026
The same logic applies when AI collapses the price of services that American workers produce.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
When a star dies and collapses, its mass is concentrated into an unimaginably dense point.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026
Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper need to hit their open threes as the Knicks' defense collapses.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Photograph it, and this shimmer collapses into one angle, one exposure, one compromise.
—Douglas Goodwin, The Conversation, 1 June 2026
Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Sustain the releases across a wide enough area for long enough, and the population starves itself of offspring and collapses.
—Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
Two of the buildings experienced roof collapses, says Andrew Brown, the village’s assistant director of economic development.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Blowing leads is becoming a recurring trend for Clark's squad, which has suffered similar collapses against the Washington Mystics and Golden State Valkyries this season.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
Is there a way the Tigers can reconfigure their roster in hopes of avoiding collapses like this season’s (and last season’s) in the future?
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The results mark one of the sharpest polling collapses of any modern president.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The robot stops, availability collapses and trust erodes.
—John Wall, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Its teams in 2007-08, 2013-14 and 2022-23 were in first place for long stretches of the season, only for late collapses to allow the title to slip away.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Verb
Love collapses, and her mother cries out several times before the body camera footage ends.
—Joseph States, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2026
There’s an even bigger problem, though—Charlie collapses on the floor in pain, alone in the office, as the season ends.
—Barry Levitt, Time, 10 June 2026
Now researchers have analyzed samples taken from within the structure itself—specifically, the crater’s peak ring, an inner ring that formed when the Chicxulub impact produced enough debris to form a mound in the center of its crater that later collapses.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 9 June 2026
The real insight is in what collapses when one pillar is absent.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 9 June 2026
The same logic applies when AI collapses the price of services that American workers produce.
—James Broughel, Forbes.com, 6 June 2026
When a star dies and collapses, its mass is concentrated into an unimaginably dense point.
—Quanta Magazine, 3 June 2026
Stephon Castle, Julian Champagnie and Dylan Harper need to hit their open threes as the Knicks' defense collapses.
—David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 June 2026
Photograph it, and this shimmer collapses into one angle, one exposure, one compromise.
—Douglas Goodwin, The Conversation, 1 June 2026
Noun
Because these kinds of collapses often happen with little or no warning, any orangutans had very little time to escape.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 16 June 2026
Sustain the releases across a wide enough area for long enough, and the population starves itself of offspring and collapses.
—Gretchen Wittenmyer-Stone, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 June 2026
Two of the buildings experienced roof collapses, says Andrew Brown, the village’s assistant director of economic development.
—Jerry Shnay, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Blowing leads is becoming a recurring trend for Clark's squad, which has suffered similar collapses against the Washington Mystics and Golden State Valkyries this season.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 June 2026
Is there a way the Tigers can reconfigure their roster in hopes of avoiding collapses like this season’s (and last season’s) in the future?
—Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 3 June 2026
The results mark one of the sharpest polling collapses of any modern president.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 June 2026
The robot stops, availability collapses and trust erodes.
—John Wall, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Its teams in 2007-08, 2013-14 and 2022-23 were in first place for long stretches of the season, only for late collapses to allow the title to slip away.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapses
Verb
-
At only 20 feet high, Abrams Falls’ stature isn’t its most impressive quality; however, the sheer force of water that tumbles down it is an experience to enjoy with several senses—certainly sight, but also sound and feel too.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
8 June 2026
-
The film, which is set to bow in Un Certain Regard on May 21, tumbles through tones, swerving through pitch-black humor, empathy, fury and larger-than-life moments.—
William Earl,
Variety,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Sunday under a law that generally applies when a driver fails to obey an official traffic-control device.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
15 June 2026
-
The burn fails, but the capsule has just enough inertia to be drawn to Earth once again.—
Neil Oseman,
Space.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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It will be covered with a secondary cylinder that will trap air and push out any approaching water, and the capsule itself is rimmed with a soft metal that compresses under pressure.—
Holly Ramer,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2026
-
Political uncertainty compresses multiple expansion during the lead-up to an election.—
Jason Kirsch,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Noun
-
France ended the Seleção’s campaign in the 2006 quarterfinals, the Netherlands did so in 2010, Germany inflicted one of the most infamous defeats in the sport’s history in 2014 – a 7-1 drubbing that had fans crying in the stands – and quarterfinal exits followed again in 2018 and 2022.—
Emile Nuh,
CNN Money,
13 June 2026
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Beginning at Italia ’90, when Team USA was unceremoniously dumped out of its first World Cup with three consecutive defeats, this slice of stars-and-stripes nostalgia then charts the buildup to its first time as host.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
10 June 2026
Verb
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The store is 8,000 square feet with plenty of options to choose from as far as merch goes, including jerseys, Funko Pops, soccer balls and more.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
12 June 2026
-
In testimony before the House Committee on Ways and Means, Sheila Clark, President and CEO of the California Hospice and Palliative Care Association, warned that the damage goes far beyond the theft of tax dollars.—
Wes Kilgore,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Joel Embiid is a great player, one of the best bigs in f—ing basketball history, flops.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
One of the best bigs in [expletive] basketball history flops.—
Matt Schooley,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Over-the-Rhine condenses the history of America into several square blocks.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Belmont says the facility would generate enough heat to raise nighttime temperatures by eight to 12 degrees, irrevocably shifting the dew point, the temperature at which water condenses.—
Mary Jane Gibson,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2026
Noun
-
Researchers examine how teams analyze data, communicate, and make decisions during unexpected technical failures or emergency alarms.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 June 2026
-
Across the country, bitter winter cold snaps accelerate battery failures overnight.—
Karen Koehler,
Charlotte Observer,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapses. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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