1
as in scrunching
to create (as by crushing) an irregular mass of creases in
crumpled the piece of paper and angrily threw it in the wastebasket
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in collapsing
to fall down or in as a result of physical pressure
the box crumpled when I accidentally dropped a brick on it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of crumpling
Moses Moody scored 23 points before crumpling to the floor with an apparently serious left knee injury late in overtime as the Golden State Warriors beat Dallas 137-131 on Monday night, extending the Mavericks' home losing streak to 12 games, their longest in 32 years.
—
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Late on, with the game already won, James Garner and substitute Merlin Rohl chased Enzo Fernandez, sending him crumpling to the turf.
—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
The Material steak knives arrived sharp, slicing through a piece of paper rather than crumpling its edge.
—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Kamau fading, then lunging, then crumpling to the pavement at the line.
—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
The question is whether the world can take that long of a shock without crumpling beneath the weight of rising inflation and staggering growth.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Singh’s truck blocked both lanes of the northbound Turnpike, leading the Chrysler Town & Country minivan the three friends were riding in to slam into the semi’s 18-wheeler trailer, crumpling underneath it.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Late on, with the game already won, James Garner and substitute Merlin Rohl chased Enzo Fernandez, sending him crumpling to the turf.
—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
The Material steak knives arrived sharp, slicing through a piece of paper rather than crumpling its edge.
—
Emily Johnson,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Mar. 2026
Kamau fading, then lunging, then crumpling to the pavement at the line.
—
Kevin Sintumuang,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
The question is whether the world can take that long of a shock without crumpling beneath the weight of rising inflation and staggering growth.
—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
3 Mar. 2026
Singh’s truck blocked both lanes of the northbound Turnpike, leading the Chrysler Town & Country minivan the three friends were riding in to slam into the semi’s 18-wheeler trailer, crumpling underneath it.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for crumpling
Verb
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In the meantime, Atomi encourages people to try the supine core and toe-scrunching exercises at home.
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He could be seen scrunching his face in anticipation.
Verb
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The camaraderie was evident on the ground here in La Guaira, the coastal city where quake damage was most severe, collapsing dozens of buildings.
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Unlike straw or lower-grade wool blends, beaver felt can be reworked without collapsing its structure, which is what allows hats to be reshaped by hand rather than stamped out of a mold.
Verb
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Before noon, families had folding chairs lined up along Highways 244 and 16A, in Keystone and Hill City, and not for any parade – just to look up nearly 12 hours from now.
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It can also be lifted using a folding slow-rebound grip that doesn't jarringly snap back down when released.
Verb
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News of their leaving sent Google’s shares tumbling more than 5% on Monday.
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That shows up clearly in the data, with UK goods exports tumbling relative to other major economies since 2016.
Verb
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Best Wrinkle-free Top Deals From fluttery blouses to crisp button-downs, nearly every top style is on sale for Prime Day—and many of them are resistant to wrinkling, even in your suitcase.
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Dryer sheets soften and release wrinkles in fabrics that are prone to wrinkling, such as cotton and linen.
Cite this Entry
“Crumpling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/crumpling. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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