1
as in to tumble
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 to fail
to be unsuccessful
the legal case collapsed in the face of the opposition's evidence
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to compress
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
1
as in exhaustion
a complete depletion of energy or strength
suffered a mental collapse under the strain of studying for his bar exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in defeat
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
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 collapse
Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 23 July 2025
Angelsharks are ambush predators that help maintain balance in coastal food webs, so if their populations collapse, the effects could ripple outward in unpredictable ways.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 July 2025
Now, season three is raising the stakes by bringing in the most relatable thing the show has done — the threat of the total collapse of civilization.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
But by the end of June, the deal collapsed over Hims & Hers' sale and promotion of cheaper knock-offs.
—Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 23 July 2025
Angelsharks are ambush predators that help maintain balance in coastal food webs, so if their populations collapse, the effects could ripple outward in unpredictable ways.
—Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
Noun
With every orderly ratchet higher to a record high in the benchmark indexes, affirmed by a breakout in bitcoin as gold sleeps, a steep retreat in market volatility and a collapse in corporate-credit spreads, the investment universe is telling you to relax.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 12 July 2025
Now, season three is raising the stakes by bringing in the most relatable thing the show has done — the threat of the total collapse of civilization.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
-
One option could be to 'tumble' the regolith, turning it over repeatedly so that the heat is more evenly applied, but this slows the extraction of water and increases the mechanical complexity of the process.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
17 July 2025
-
Still, the episode sent stock prices tumbling and bond yields climbing, until Trump’s disavowal restored calm to the markets.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
The agency failed to answer thousands of calls from flood survivors after allowing contracts for call-center workers to lapse one day after the disaster, according to The New York Times.—
Zoë Schlanger,
The Atlantic,
15 July 2025
-
Last July, when the blade failed, foam fiberglass and other debris settled to the ocean floor, entered the water table and littered Nantucket beaches for months.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
It's considered lossless to the eye, but the signal is actually compressed at a 3:1 ratio.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
13 July 2025
-
However, extreme space weather events may compress – or in some cases, peel back – the Earth’s magnetic shield.—
Mojtaba Akhavan-Tafti,
The Conversation,
11 July 2025
Noun
-
This matter of loss exhaustion brings me to the first caveat about fancified indexing.—
William Baldwin,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
-
For Baser, this past year has been a learning experience, a chance to reacquaint herself with her inner child in the midst of exhaustion.—
Sophie Williams,
Billboard,
25 July 2025
Noun
-
Skipping the Kansas origin story, the film instead picks up with Superman (David Corenswet) after his first defeat.—
Jake Coyle,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
-
Sunday’s defeat capped a roller-coaster first half in which the Yankees jumped out to a 42-25 record, only to follow with a 6-16 skid that included two separate six-game losing streaks.—
Peter Sblendorio,
Hartford Courant,
13 July 2025
Verb
-
The action by the state legislature, set to go into effect in 2026, has already led Scott to completely reshape the business model of what has been 7 Point Farm and Apothecary, formerly in the Midway Center on Lebanon Road.—
Maria Leontaras,
The Tennessean,
15 July 2025
-
The story goes that the robbery occurred in broad daylight while occupants of Villa Nellcôte watched TV, having reportedly been conducted by Marseille drug dealers that Richards was said to have owed money to.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
However, tall varieties, which can reach 5 feet in height, should be staked to keep them upright and prevent them from flopping over nearby plants.—
Rita Pelczar,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 July 2025
-
During Fan Expo Denver, Fraser gave his take on why the follow-up flopped, per Collider.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
The Euro 2025 quarter-finals had late drama, with Italy squeezing past Norway, a comeback out of nowhere from England, and a farcical penalty shootout win over Sweden.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
20 July 2025
-
Then, squeeze your Magic Eraser a few times to activate the foaming bubbles.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share