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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapses
Jennifer Nassour, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Fernandina gangway collapses during 4th of July fireworks The cause of the deck collapse is under investigation.
—Teresa Stepzinski, Florida Times-Union, 25 Jan. 2026
Innovation climbing while trust collapses.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Narcissism collapses time into the present moment.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
This is really reminding me of that House episode where the runway model punches another model out and then collapses on the catwalk.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
An attack on Greenland would shatter NATO, handing a strategic victory to Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin as the world's most successful defensive alliance collapses.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
The electrical grid collapses regularly, leaving the entire country in the dark.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
When immunity becomes absolute, accountability collapses.
—Yohuru Williams, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Sam McDowell 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
When software can be created, modified, and extended through natural language, the cost of variety collapses.
—John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The stellar core collapses, unleashing a truly staggering amount of energy that causes the star to explode; in an instant, several octillion tons of matter are flung outward at an appreciable fraction of the speed of light.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
The Hurricanes’ defense kept them out of the playoff field last year because of collapses against Georgia Tech and Syracuse in the final three weeks that the offense — which pulled off heroics almost weekly in conference play — couldn’t overcome.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
When smokers switch completely to smoke-free products, their exposure to toxic chemicals collapses.
—Kevin Bardosh, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2026
The Lightning took a 3-0 lead after one period of Game 1 in its opening playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets and then what came next was one of the most stunning collapses in sports history.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Previous collapses have hit the collector before, including a major failure in 2017.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Tehran has warned suppliers against hoarding and price gouging as the rial collapses against the dollar, exacerbating public frustration and fueling daily demonstrations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
What’s becoming harder to ignore is who appears to be benefiting when oversight collapses.
—Jennifer Nassour, Boston Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Fernandina gangway collapses during 4th of July fireworks The cause of the deck collapse is under investigation.
—Teresa Stepzinski, Florida Times-Union, 25 Jan. 2026
Innovation climbing while trust collapses.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Narcissism collapses time into the present moment.
—Literary Hub, 23 Jan. 2026
This is really reminding me of that House episode where the runway model punches another model out and then collapses on the catwalk.
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 22 Jan. 2026
An attack on Greenland would shatter NATO, handing a strategic victory to Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin as the world's most successful defensive alliance collapses.
—Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026
The electrical grid collapses regularly, leaving the entire country in the dark.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
When immunity becomes absolute, accountability collapses.
—Yohuru Williams, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Noun
The plethora of fourth-quarter collapses offers refuting evidence.
—Sam McDowell 27, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2026
When software can be created, modified, and extended through natural language, the cost of variety collapses.
—John Sviokla, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The stellar core collapses, unleashing a truly staggering amount of energy that causes the star to explode; in an instant, several octillion tons of matter are flung outward at an appreciable fraction of the speed of light.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 22 Jan. 2026
The Hurricanes’ defense kept them out of the playoff field last year because of collapses against Georgia Tech and Syracuse in the final three weeks that the offense — which pulled off heroics almost weekly in conference play — couldn’t overcome.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 20 Jan. 2026
When smokers switch completely to smoke-free products, their exposure to toxic chemicals collapses.
—Kevin Bardosh, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2026
The Lightning took a 3-0 lead after one period of Game 1 in its opening playoff series against the Columbus Blue Jackets and then what came next was one of the most stunning collapses in sports history.
—Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 17 Jan. 2026
Previous collapses have hit the collector before, including a major failure in 2017.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026
Tehran has warned suppliers against hoarding and price gouging as the rial collapses against the dollar, exacerbating public frustration and fueling daily demonstrations.
—Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 8 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapses
Verb
-
After some careful shaking, the rabbit finally tumbles out of the hose.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
-
The glass tumbles day and night in the waves against the pebbles and sand.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The Shift from Profit to Purpose While most companies are in the business of making money, history shows that greed as a business strategy often fails.—
Serenity Gibbons,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
And if all else fails, throw a boneless rib eye or skirt steak in the freezer until firm and use a sharp knife to slice it yourself.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Video inflates thought; reading compresses it.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
This vapor layer unexpectedly acts as a cushion, ensuring the shockwave compresses the water symmetrically.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In their last two defeats, the Razorbacks (11-11, 0-7 SEC) hung tight with Georgia and LSU for three quarters.—
Ethan Westerman,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Coming off one of their most lopsided defeats of the season, the Celtics capitalized on an ideal get-right opportunity Friday night.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
There goes his liver, Rachel thought.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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But with the June primary ballot deadline rapidly approaching, the delay likely nixes the possibility of the city amending its own tax before a possible statewide measure goes before voters.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Fortunately for shareholders, the stock grants come with a feature similar to equity options that somewhat reduces Musk’s payday, especially in a case like the one above where the plan flops.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
29 Nov. 2025
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Amina blows her mom a kiss and then flops down in her crib, pretending to be asleep.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Both these methods consume much energy, either to cool surfaces so water vapor condenses or pry water molecules off sorbents through heat and pressure.—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Made less dense, the air then rises, cools and condenses into clouds, which produce heavy snow in narrow bands downwind.—
Adriana Pérez,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
That last-minute development is reviving debate about the extent of state support for Vanke, one of the last major developers to have avoided an outright default after a broader property market slump sparked record debt failures in recent years.—
Bloomberg News,
Bloomberg,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Studies show that hot spots cause 22 percent of PV module failures within just three years of operation.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Collapses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapses. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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