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
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1
as in exhaustion
a complete depletion of energy or strength
suffered a mental collapse under the strain of studying for his bar exam
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of collapse
Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
Those talks collapsed in 2015, leading to crackdowns against the pro-Kurdish party, which has been accused by the Turkish government of having links to the PKK and its affiliates.
—Gul Tuysuz, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 11 July 2025
When people become cold and distrustful of one another, the notion of the common good collapses.
—Nathan Meyers, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Verb
Horse racing in Northern California has collapsed, leaving Southern California’s Del Mar, Santa Anita and Los Alamitos tracks as the only venues in the state.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2025
Those talks collapsed in 2015, leading to crackdowns against the pro-Kurdish party, which has been accused by the Turkish government of having links to the PKK and its affiliates.
—Gul Tuysuz, CNN Money, 11 July 2025
Noun
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
When people become cold and distrustful of one another, the notion of the common good collapses.
—Nathan Meyers, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for collapse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for collapse
Verb
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The steps in a rehabilitation from injury or the buildup after time off are like dominoes in that one tumbles into the next.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 July 2025
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Executives around the league wondered what would come next for the team that tumbled from the 2023-24 Presidents’ Trophy champions to out of the playoffs.—
Peter Baugh,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
-
Renard was not the only one who failed to make the cut.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
5 July 2025
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In the corporate world, companies that fail to keep up with advances in hardware, software or technology platforms could face a different type of crisis: being at a competitive disadvantage in a challenging and demanding marketplace.—
Edward Segal,
Forbes.com,
5 July 2025
Verb
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In theory, this could help spotlight Alto Adige’s remarkable vineyard diversity - granite slopes, volcanic porphyry, glacial moraines - all compressed into just under 6,000 hectares of fragmented vineyards, layered across extreme altitudes.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
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Burnout is a potential trade-off If your workload is heavy, compressing it into fewer days can backfire.—
Julia Sullivan,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Noun
-
The result can feel like exhaustion, even when the change is welcome.—
Inga Bielińska,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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Just three years ago, voters recalled District Attorney Chesa Boudin, amid mounting exhaustion with progressive criminal justice policies.—
Douglas Schoen,
Oc Register,
13 July 2025
Noun
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Calgary is coming off a defeat, however, having most recently fallen 20-12 to the previously 0-2 Ottawa Redblacks.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 July 2025
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The reigning world champions had inflicted a 7-1 defeat on Portugal in April.—
Megan Feringa,
New York Times,
4 July 2025
Verb
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But the story goes a little something like this: Cheyenne, along with her two older brothers, was taken in by their great-grandparents after their mother lost custody.—
Stephanie Kuzydym,
The Courier-Journal,
6 July 2025
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Some persons leave the room with a bang, slamming the door and they’re gone.—
Mará Rose Williams
July 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Staking helps protect tall or large-flowered dahlias from breakage and flopping over, especially after rain or strong wind.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 July 2025
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Some species will flop over when grown in rich soils.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Marlene alleged her son grabbed and started to squeeze her throat.—
Christine Pelisek,
People.com,
11 July 2025
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Kalvin Phillips squeezes a pass through the gap and into Omari Hutchinson, taking three Forest players out of the game.—
Thom Harris,
New York Times,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Collapse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/collapse. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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