implosion

noun

im·​plo·​sion im-ˈplō-zhən How to pronounce implosion (audio)
1
: the action of imploding
2
: the act or action of bringing to or as if to a center
also : integration
this implosion of cultures makes realistic for the first time the age-old vision of a world culture Kenneth Keniston
3
: the inrush of air in forming a suction stop
implosive adjective or noun

Examples of implosion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
From the final moments of O’Neil’s tenure, when defeat at home by Ipswich Town prompted a post-match meltdown that included Cunha elbowing a member of Ipswich’s staff then ripping his glasses from his face, the highly emotional forward never seemed far from implosion. Steve Madeley, New York Times, 28 May 2025 Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Two years on from the disaster that shocked the world, a new documentary is landing on Netflix sharing the astonishing details that led to the implosion of the OceanGate submersible. Billie Melissa, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025 The shocking 2023 implosion of the OceanGate Titan submersible, which instantly killed all five passengers, is the subject of a damning new documentary from Netflix. Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 22 May 2025 Through whistleblower testimony, audio recordings and footage from the company’s beginnings, the film offers fresh perspective on the implosion of the Titan submersible that commanded the world’s attention in June 2023. Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for implosion

Word History

Etymology

in- entry 2 + -plosion (as in explosion)

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of implosion was in 1877

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Implosion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/implosion. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

implosion

noun
im·​plo·​sion im-ˈplō-zhən How to pronounce implosion (audio)
: the action of imploding
implosive adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on implosion

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